Hyderabad: Liquor chocolates... have become the easiest business channel for some chocolate manufacturing units in the city to make a fast buck. College goers and high school kids are falling prey for the ‘liquor chocolates’.
The makers are cashing in on the craze for chocolates in the market as they are the safest and cheapest drugs for especially under-aged youths that available in many chocolate cafes and shopping malls in the city.
Liquor chocolates are the candies in different shapes that taste like chocolate with the alcohol/whisky content mixed in it that gives mild intoxication to the consumer. It is difficult to smell the alcohol content in the liquor chocolates. Import of such chocolates is banned in India by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2005 and its sale is illegal in India.
Of late, mostly high school students and college goers are targeted for the business selling the ‘tipsy products’ ranging from Rs. 50 to 500 at chocolate cafes and high-end stores in twin cities.
According to a latest report, more than 100 small chocolate companies in GHMC limits have turned to making liquor chocolates illegally to make easy money.
The Excise officials revealed that the products are being sold in miniature bottles and many other shapes with weird names
Acting on a tip off, Excise Department Special Task Force and Enforcement officials conducted raids on a chocolate manufacturing unit in Old Mallepally in Hyderabad. The officials took two persons into their custody and seized 400 chocolates weighing 2kg and seven bottles of whisky and vodka from the unit. The samples have been sent to laboratory for testing.
Excise AES Anji Reddy said all the manufacturing units in the city would be served notices and the inspections will be conducted based on the reports of samples. Many chocolate cafes in the city are making money by selling the illegal products and the sales have been found high during the festive seasons of Dasara and Diwali, he said. Each pack is sold for Rs.1000 to 1600 and the price will be doubled during the peak time.
The officials also said that the liquor chocolates manufacturing units were also training persons for domestic business.
No comments:
Post a Comment