LIQUOR BOTTLING PLANT

Alcohol has been widely consumed since prehistoric times by people around the world, as a component of the standard diet, for hygienic or medical reasons, for its relaxtant and euphoric effects, for recreational purposes, for artistic inspiration, as aphrodisiacs, and for other reasons. Some drinks have been invested with symbolic or religious significance suggesting the mystic use of alcohol, e.g. by Greeo-Roman religion in the ecstatic rituals of Dionysus (also called Bacchus), god of wine and revelry; in the Christian Eucharist and on the Jewish Shabbat and Festivals.

Humans have been drinking alcohol for thousands of years. Alcohol is both a chemical and a psychoactive drug. In chemistry, an alcohol exists when a hydroxy group, a pair of oxygen and hydrogen atoms, replaces the hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon. Alcohols bind with other atoms to create secondary alcohols. These secondary alcohols are the three types of alcohol that humans use every day: methanol, isopropanol and ethanol.

In India, ‘drinking’ has remained a bad word, clubbed with the other services. While the beer and liquor market continuous to grow at an impressive rate even against an impressive rate even against an economic reassion, the social stigma remains in place which manifests itself in anti-growth state policies. United Breweries (UB), Shaw Wallacs and McDowell Cpart of UB group) presently dominate the liquor and beer market. The structure of the industry is clearly influenced by the regulatory environment and the consequent fragmentation of markets. The regulatory framework covers all these categories.

Besides these, there is a significant presence of illicitly brewed alcoholic beverages, which escapes the tax and regulatory net. We can have a look at an overview of Alcoholic beverage industry.

The Potable Sector Market

1. Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) –Whisky, Rum, Brandy, Gin & Vodka -180 million cases p.a.

2. Country Liquor –222 million cases p.a.

3. Beer (made from Barley and Malt)-170 million cases p.a.

4. Wine Domestic –1.5 million cases p.a.

IMFL and country liquor goes through the same manufacturing process and is distilled from the same agricultural source (molasses). The differences are in strength (the percentage of alcohol) and flavours. Add whisky or brandy flavours, for instance, and it becomes IMFL. Take the flavour to a tangier side, its desi daru.

“Both IMFL and country liquor use the same commercial reactive enzymes and multi-column distillation process. At a basic level, it’s the same. That’s the standard distillation equipment that gives rectified spirit.

Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) is the primary raw material for making alcoholic beverages. It is a colourless food-grade alcohol that does not have any impurities. It has a neutral smell and taste, and typically contains over 95 per cent alcohol by volume. It is derived from different sources — sugarcane molasses and grains — and is used in the production of alcoholic beverages such as whisky, vodka, gin, cane, liqueurs, and alcoholic fruit beverages.

Neutral spirits, also known as neutral alcohol, rectified spirits, rectified alcohol or ethyl alcohol is highly concentrated ethanol distilled until it reaches a min. ABV of 95% (190 proof). Neutral spirits can be made from grains, grapes, molasses, potatoes, and other agricultural origins. As the name suggests, neutral spirits are considered neutral in flavour, odour and are colourless. Having said that, there are some slight “flavour” variations among the neutral spirits, leading some to question if neutral spirits are truly flavourless.

Neutral spirits are widely used to make spirits such as vodka and gin, as well as to ‘cut’ liqueurs and make bitters, besides from its use in the spirits production the neutrality of rectified spirits also makes it useful in other industries such as the food, non-alcoholic beverage, pharmaceutical, perfumery, and cosmetics industry. It is common for neutral spirits intended for cosmetics and perfumes use to have denaturing agents added to it to reduce tax and to prevent human consumption.

Though consumption is still low, pattern of alcohol consumption vary widely through the country. Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and the north eastern states have a much higher proportion of male alcohol consumer than the rest of the country. Women tend to drink more in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Assam and Sikkim in north-east; Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh in central and east India, and Goa in the west, compared to other states. Alcohol also provides and ‘excuse’ to behave in an uncontrolled manner, which make ‘controlled’ societies, like in many Asian countries, including India, even more at risk, where alcohol consumption tend to done without the knowledge of parents and family.