Desi Sharaab is a category of liquor made in the countryside of the Indian subcontinent, one of whose variants is tharra. It is traditionally prepared from a procedure that has been passed down for centuries. It is the primary and most popular alcoholic beverage in India's villages and it is fermented and distilled from molasses which is a by product of sugarcane. Desi liquor is a broad term and it can include both legally and illegally made local alcohol. The term desi daru usually refers to legal alcohol while other types of desi liquor may be categorised as moonshine alcohol. It is consumed in India from ancient times and is known by different names in different parts of the country.
Etymology
The term desi, from Hindi language term desh, which is generally an endonym for the compatriot or local is often applied to food or drink that is considered traditional or native. Daaru is an indigenous term used for any alcoholic beverage in India. Sharaab is the Persian-derived equivalent and is used in some areas with less frequency.
Industry
An article in the medical journalThe Lancet estimated that nearly two-thirds of the alcohol consumed in India is desi daru. Globus spirits mentioned that India's desi liquor market is about 242 million cases with a growth rate of about 7% per annum. No data regarding Pakistan is available as drinking alcohol is officially prohibited for Muslims in Pakistan, although locally made liquor is sold on the black market.
Social issues
Illicit illegal desi liquor, being the cheapest alcohol in India, is the mainstay alcoholic beverage for the village population and urban poor. Illicit illegal Desi liquor is less commonly consumed for "social" purposes, it is more commonly consumed for the purpose of quick intoxication. In rural areas, illicit desi daru has been blamed for domestic violence and poverty in the family. There have been several protests against illegal desi liquor shops/bars in villages. There are usually separate bars for legal desi daru.
Adulterated/premixed Indian liquors
There have been issues in many bars in India where Scotch/English whisky has been adulterated by mixing some quantity of illicit desi liquor in it before serving it to customers.
Health issues
Though health risks are associated with all kinds of alcohol, desi daru can be more hazardous than other kinds as it does not undergo a multiple distillation process, is often poorly regulated due to it mostly being bootleg alcohol. If care is not taken in the distillation process and the proper equipment is not used, harmful impurities such as fusel alcohols, lead from plumbing solder, and methanol can be concentrated to toxic levels. Several deaths have been reported in India and Pakistan due to consumption of non-factory made toxic liquor.
