It seems drinkers have to brace up for higher prices in the coming months. State governments are desperate to ramp up their revenues and high taxation on alcohol is a low-hanging fruit they are looking at.

Delhi has become the first State in the country to impose a Special Corona Fee on alcohol. It is as high as 70 percent on the MRP of alcohol bottles.

As per critics, this is an absurd move because high taxation will inevitably promote black marketing. That way, the government will lose out on revenue even as middlemen and sellers will earn crores of rupees per day.

On the other hand, supporters of the move argue that high taxation will end the problem of rush at wine shops. "We are witness to how thousands are flocking liquor shops and mingling as though these are normal times. If prices go up, they will reduce consumption," a social media user says.