Dakshina Kannada, where hooch was brewed rampantly, saw such instances come to a complete halt after excise department operations, that lasted several decades. However, there are stray cases across the district, where it is still active, and mainly used for personal consumption.
According to excise officials, they keep raiding these places and book cases against the persons involved, whenever they receive information about hooch being brewed.
In one such incident, the excise department conducted a raid in Bantwal taluk a few days ago. During the raid, 55 litres of jaggery wash and 1.5 litres of illicit liquor, along with materials used for making illicit liquor were seized, and one person was arrested. The highest quantity of hooch materials in the recent past was recovered during the Covid pandemic in 2020, from a house in Ammunje.
Despite conducting regular raids to control hooch production, there are still individuals who are involved in the act. While earlier hooch was brewed for commercial purposes, and was rampant across the district, and now individuals or bootleggers do it for personal consumption. The brewing activities see an increase during festival and cashew seasons, where many brew cashew liquor, explained an Excise Inspector. The excise department has also seized the highest amount of hooch and wash during the election season.
In and around Mangaluru, the islands or kudurus in the local language, were infamous for brewing hooch. Bootleggers who were actively involved in the illegal activity have become old and retired, said an excise department official, adding that they still keep an eye on these places.
TM Srinivas, Deputy Commissioner of Excise Department said, department officials conduct raids whenever they receive complaints, and destroy the wash. The incidents have come down compared to previous years, he said.
