Buying beer in Delhi

Every time I want to buy beer I have to really prepare myself. Select a big bag which will conceal the bottles and I never forget to wear my helmet- in the shop. And I have to push myself to go to the shop. It is such an ordeal but I like drinking. I just want to fast-forward the whole 10 or 15 minutes.
Actually it depends on the kind of shop and the locality. If I were staying in a posh colony of south Delhi it just wouldn’t matter . The crowd is totally different and the shops are friendlier. No one stares at you and no one is bothered. You can take your time to choose the brand and ask for your choice. But that’s south Delhi. Any where else it’s a big deal. There are govt. owned liquor shops all over, but they are definitely for the males. In all my trips over the past 5 years I have NEVER seen any female buy liquor from where I buy. At least not when I was there- afternoon or evening or late night. Males males and only males. Men from all classes and young boys from all classes.

There are 2 shops near my house.

Shop 1- It’s a small shop may be 25 yards or more. Right next to the parking area. In fact you can park your two-wheeler 10 inches away and buy your stuff. The counter is right there. If there is no crowd, just sit on your bike and ask them to give you your stuff.

Shop 2- Park your vehicle and walk about 20 steps to the shop. The shop is raised from the ground level, so climb 4 steps. There is space for only one person to stand. On your left are racks with gin, vodka, beer , etc. On your right are the freezers with beer-mostly not cold. So if anyone wants to overtake you, will have to touch some part of your body-oblivious of the gender.You can smell the armpit of the person in front of you. The shop is again very small. Maybe 40 yards or something. There are three freezers, after which you go round pay at the counter and vanish.

Most of the govt. shops look like grocery shops.You stand outside the shop, obviously there are no queques and everyone is in a hurry and pushing each other around.

Very convenient. Only problem is when you are a woman with breasts. So one has to disguise with the helmet, hurry with the order and pay the amount and then check in the rear view mirror that no one is following you.
I started going to shop no.1 frequently. The first time I went, the salesmen just stared at me through the helmet. It took them a few seconds to hear what I was saying. Gradually they became used to my visits so much so that they wanted to shake hands with and ask me why I didn’t come last weekend. So when I told them my husband came they looked at me with questioning looks. I understood what they thought of me. It was definitely uncomfortable and annoying. So I started going to shop no.2. They still have to digest my visits and really want me to take off my helmet. And when I am in the shop there is pin drop silence and I can feel all eyes staring at me.

Men in India still need to get comfortable with fact that a woman can drink or have the guts to buy drinks. I normally wear jeans and T-shirt, I wonder what the reaction would be if I wore a sari and sindoor! Now that would be a sight or an art project !

Yes men in India have got used to women working in offices with men but that I think is totally due to economic pressures. If the man is well of, has a good income, own property, then the female of the house will definitely not work. There is simply no need to work. If it is the woman’s choice I totally respect that.

Coming back to buying beer.
Some times I go to buy beer because the stock at home has finished but mostly I go to annoy those who get disturbed by the presence of a woman. No I don’t intend to change the world but just to let some men know that females too like to drink and can buy drinks. It is not really a pleasure buying but at times it’s a pleasure to see the expressions.
Cheers !!