GESt in case: Star hotels stocking up scotch, wine

Hyderabad: Ahead of Global Entrepreneur Summit (GES) beginning from November 28, star hotels are stocking up scotch and wine. Telangana State Beverages Corporation Limited, the official liquor supply agency to all licensed liquor outlets and bars, is being flooded with huge stock orders for scotch from star hotels which are providing hospitality for the domestic and international delegates.

It is expected that 2,000 domestic and international delegates are attending the summit and another 5,000 support staff will descend on Hyderabad during the three-day summit. In addition, representatives of corporate agencies will also arrive in the city to hold trade talks with the delegates.

The Beverages Corporation officials told The Hans India that the star hotel managements which run bars in their premises requested for huge liquor stocks in view of the night parties organised by some corporate agencies with delegates during the summit time. State Excise and Prohibition department accorded permission to sell liquor and run bars in 16 star hotels in Hyderabad. Each star hotel has forwarded indent to the corporation requesting for the supply of 15 to 20 per cent additional stocks for this month ending November 30.

Officials said that the corporation has sold 21.59 lakh cases of liquor, of which 15 per cent has been foreign liquor, till Saturday evening this month. The demand for scotch has been increased to 30 per cent this weekend in the star hotels. US and UK made foreign liquor brands, Russian vodka, wine from Italy, Spain, Germany and France are most sought-after drinks for the delegates.

It is estimated that the government will earn Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore additional revenue through the increased liquor sales during the summit time. Managements of the star hotels have also requested the government to permit them to conduct night parties in open lawns and ball rooms. The Excise department will also collect additional fees for these parties, sources said.