It is a good news for booze lovers in Assam who favour the raw and rustic country as it will now be branded — and also come in two flavours.
To prevent adulteration and revenue leakage, the Assam government has decided that country liquor would be grain-based, undergo chemical tests and be branded, making it mandatory for the bottles to sport a hologram as in the case of IMFL. The government has also decided to limit the alcoholic content to below 12 percent.
“Four companies have applied for production and bottling license of country liquor — two in Kamrup Metro district, one in Kamrup Rural district and one in Jorhat district. The factory at Jorhat has registered the Rhino brand for their product and they are likely to soon launch it,” Assam Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya told media.
“The Rhino brand will initially have three products. Of them, two will be orange and pineapple flavoured while one will be unflavoured,” he said, adding that while the move is expected to stop adulteration and check health hazards, it is also expected to increase revenues several fold.
Earlier, country liquor used to be made from “lali gur” or molasses. Now the grain will be fermented to make extra neutral alcohol (ENA), which will be used to make the spirit. Since the ENA will be grain-based it will not be hazardous to health. Besides, the whole process will be monitored in factories and there will be chemical tests.
The government has also amended excise rules to put in place a scientific system of bottling and trading of the country spirit. The new rules intend to make the entire trade hygienic and transparent, which, in turn, will also augment revenue.
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