With the lockdown extended till 3rd May, it is officially confirmed that alcohol and liquor shops will also remain closed. This has led to a majority of Indians googling “How To Make Alcohol At Home” during the lockdown.

Google Trends is a website by the search engine to monitor what people are searching online. Data from it shows that that online searches for ‘how to make alcohol at home’ peaked in India during the week of March 22-28. This is the same week Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed the nationwide lockdown. As Indians get desperate to get the alcohol they crave so much, the search query is trending even now.

Some states have even reported cases of people dying due to symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. As a response, states like Assam and Meghalaya decided to open alcohol shops for limited hours and under strict social distancing guidelines. However, after the guidelines issued by the central government, the same was subsequently closed until further notice.

Alcohol Unavailability During The Lockdown

Even the biggest of alcohol aficionados have seen their alcohol stock run out during the lockdown. With restaurants and bars closed, even going out to get a taste of your favourite liquor isn’t possible right now. 

Many people had resorted to buying alcohol from the black market during the initial phases of the lockdown. This was despite the prices of alcohol being 3-4 times higher than their usual rates. We even talked to a person who was selling alcohol in the black market, and this is how much it cost during the lockdown.

However, the renewed lockdown guidelines of the government have prohibited the sale of alcohol. With the crackdown on the black marketing of alcohol getting stricter, selling alcohol in black has become even more difficult. The prices have risen exorbitantly, putting them out of the reach of many. 

Additionally, there are also concerns that premium brands are being spiked with undistilled liquor to keep up with the demand. Therefore the risk of getting alcohol from the black market has become too high, and many people are now refraining from it. Not only this, but many people also don’t want to risk procuring something the government has not deemed as an essential commodity. 

Indians Try To Make Alcohol At Home

As getting alcohol gets difficult, Indians are taking an alternative route to satisfying their liquor cravings. They want to play it safe and brew their own batch at home.

From homemade mead to wine fermented from rice, Indians are trying to master some home remedies that they can use to make sure their alcohol supply doesn’t stop during the lockdown.

However, not everyone has the luxury of brewing their liquor at home. People in dire need of alcohol with limited resources have resorted to desperate measures. For those who can’t afford branded liquor, they have started consuming homemade country liquor which is a danger in itself. 

This liquor contains large amounts of methanol, like hooch or desi daru, which is notorious for poisoning and taking the lives of thousands of poor people 

While making your own liquor at home sounds fun and exciting, it has its perils as well. In Uttar Pradesh, two people died last week after drinking home-brewed liquor, while five others were admitted to hospital in critical condition.

Therefore, think twice if you too are searching for how to make alcohol at home. The ends may not justify the means!