TIPPLER TOURISM
A complete ban on sale of alcohol by the Bihar state government in India has resulted in a flourishing liquor business along the bordering Nepali towns. From bhattis (local pubs) to fancy restaurants catering to different social strata of tipplers have sprung up, taking advantage of open borders between the two countries. My work is an attempt to put light on a novel tourism trend along the southern belt of the country and its deeper social and economic impact in the region.
One must have noticed rows of liquor shops while visiting the border towns along the southern plains of Nepal. The flourishing liquor business is due to the regulation that prohibits selling and consumption of alcohol in the neighboring state of Bihar with a jail term of up to five years for delinquents. Tipplers from India, mostly men, try to find their solace right across the No Man’s Land. From local bhattis to fancy restaurants catering to different social strata of tipplers have sprung up in the Nepali side, taking advantage of an open border between the two countries. Few of the drinkers are frequent, crossing the porous borders every other day, while others occasionally enter Nepal to celebrate and drink like there’s no tomorrow.
Different varieties of liquor are available; from branded to cheaper alternatives like locally brewed hooch or rakshi, depending on the budget and preferences. A bunch of young men talking about ex-lovers, adults talking about the difficulties at work and old men reminiscing on the yesteryears creating a cacophony of noise only to be pierced by someone yelling out from the table, “ Saauni, arko ek bottle! ” (One more bottle, please!). There are even Indian government officials and policemen who visit at times and try to remain low as they risk losing their jobs if caught drinking. I also witnessed some locals being used as human mules to smuggle a few bottles of booze across from lesser-known border points. I was told that you’d have a bottle delivered at your doorstep even in Bihar if you are willing to pay a significant markup. For some; festivals, weddings or gatherings are incomplete without alcohol, to an extent that entire weddings have been shifted to Nepal only so that they can accommodate drinks in the buffet menu.
‘Tippler Tourism’ has been economically beneficial to the region but not without its socio-cultural implications. Drunk brawls, deaths related to alcohol poisoning and a constant scuffle with authorities make regular news, which still hasn’t been able to dampen the spirits of such visitors. Maybe that’s why an adage is popular among them, “Surya Asta toh Nepal Masta” (Fun is in Nepal when the sun sets).
TIPPING POINT- THE BOOK
SLIDESHOW VIDEO
PHOTOBOOK DUMMY
