Toddy sales pick up as bottled liquor prices rise in Andhra Pradesh

VISAKHAPATNAM: Toddy, once considered a poor man’s drink, has emerged as a much sought-after drink in north coastal Andhra Pradesh after prices of bottled liquor soared.
The most widely sold variety of toddy is palmyra toddy (popularly known as Thati Kallu) and vendors after decades are doing brisk business. While this is the case in coastal areas, the agency areas have witnessed a huge rise in the sale of fish-tail toddy.
Y Demudu, president of the toddy sellers’ union in Visakhapatnam district said, “There was a time when our sales were dwindling, but now thanks to the government increasing the rates of bottled liquor, many people are preferring the consumption of palm toddy.Right from youngsters to people from upper-middle classes are consuming toddy.”
The state government allowed toddy sellers to collect and sell toddy from April 25 and the sales picked up dramatically in the second week of May after the state government hiked the prices of bottled liquor.
Although palm toddy is much cheaper than beer, toddy sellers, too, have hiked prices. “Earlier a litre used to cost roughly Rs 50, now its being sold for Rs 100. However, this is cheaper in comparison to a bottle of beer, which today costs no less than Rs 230,” said D Trinadh, an engineering student from Gitam.
Regarding the sale of fishtail toddy, agency dwellers said the hike in bottled liquor prices has helped local tribals augment the loss incurred due to lack of tourist footfall.