81,000 litres of illicit liquor destroyed in Nepal

Kathmandu, June 20 (IANS) Around 81,000 litres of illicit liquor have been seized and destroyed in the Nepali capital in the past three years, police records show.

However, despite attempts by police to discourage production and consumption of hooch, the business of home-made liquor has been flourishing in the Kathmandu Valley, Xinhua reported citing local media.

Police said 81,000 liters of liquor have been seized and destroyed in the past three years. This year alone, 39,000 litres of hooch have been destroyed -- more than the quantity in 2011 (26,500 liters) and 2010 (16,000 liters).

At least 55 people have been arrested in the last three years, including 23 in 2012, for these offences.

Police spokesman Dhiraj Pratap Singh told the Kathmandu Post daily the rise in prices of distilled alcohol was the main reason behind increase in consumption of hooch.