Bangla (drink)

An empty bottle of Bangla liquor.

Bangla[1][2] is an alcoholic beverage made from starch and sold in West Bengal. There are government licensed counters that sell this beverage. Bangla is a distilled country liquor. Notable Bengali liquor brand names are Uran, Captain, Pincon Bangla number one, Sengupta's Punch, Sengupta's Spark, Tarzan, Dada, Wonder, etc.[3]

Ingredients

Bangla is made from grains such as sorghum, bajra and wheat.[3]

Production and consumption

According to the government data of 2015, 48% of the West Bengal state's market share is Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), 39% is the Bangla drink. 11% of the market share is beer and the remaining 2% are occupied by wine and other spirits.[3] Bangla is generally consumed by those who cannot afford other more expensive alcohol.[4] The market, however, has been increasing for domestic liquor; this is due to a combination of a change in government policy that allows Bengali liquor to be sold in more outlets, improved production, better packaging, and new marketing strategies.[3]

A major proportion of excise revenue in the state of West Bengal comes from cheap Bengali liquor. In the 2014-15 fiscal year, the figure reached 3,600 crore.[3]

References

  1. ^ "বাংলা মদের বাংলা বাজার". kolkata24x7.com. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  2. ^ Bhattacharya, Tathagata (22 October 2017). "Alcohol and Bengalis: A troubled relationship". National Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "কুলীন হওয়ার দৌড়ে এতদিনের ব্রাত্য বাংলা". আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা. 5 Jun 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  4. ^ Tathagata Bhattacharya (23 October 2017). "Alcohol and Bengalis: A troubled relationship". National Herald.