What is 'Kuppi' and why is it consumed?

[Naveed Yaseen]

Dr Lala Mubarak at the Medico-legal Department, Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK), said Kuppi was illegally-brewed liquor at makeshift breweries in densely populated, low-income areas of the city. The affordability factor makes it the favourite drink of the low income-group which includes non-Muslim minorities as well as Muslims.

“Katchi Sharab is quite cheap as compared to imported or smuggled liquor or even the locally produced but branded versions. It is, however, fatal for consumers as it contains methanol, which is a lethal compound in addition to industrial spirit, tranquillisers and various sedatives,” he explained.

A plastic bag or bottle of Kuppi costs roughly around Rs70 to Rs75 (wholesale) and is sold to consumers for Rs100 to Rs120. However, on religious festivals of minorities such as Holi, Dewali, Christmas and even Ramazan, its prices go up depending on growing demand.

Apart from affordability, it is considered to be “quite strong” by its consumers, because it contains over 70 per cent alcohol. “Those addicted to Katchi Sharab hardly ever switch to branded liquor because of its strength (expensive liquor is not as potent) and price,” Samuel, a habitual drinker who has had his share of most varieties of liquor in the country, told The News.

Often, brewers of homemade liquor can’t distinguish between their desired products — whether or not they have produced ethyl alcohol or ethanol owing to their lack of knowledge about chemicals and the unavailability of the equipment to test the end-product. Thus, they end up producing toxic methanol, which can either kill a person or can cause permanent blindness.
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Police taking cosmetic measures on poisonous liquor issue
By M. Waqar Bhatti
Besides taking cosmetic measures such as arresting four low-profile bootleggers and the suspension of two Station House Officers (SHOs) in Lyari, the Karachi police have made no headway in apprehending the main culprits involved in the manufacture, supply and sale of poisonous moonshine in the city.

According to estimates, over 40 people have lost their lives in one week after consuming spurious liquor that was openly being sold in the city — from New Karachi to Lyari and Baldia Town to Malir — right under the ‘vigilant’ eye of the police and excise and taxation officials.

This recent instance is the second biggest reported incident of deaths because of poisonous liquor consumption. The first one occurred in September 2007 in the month of Ramzan when over 100 people died. In both cases, the police have failed to do anything substantial.

This time, William Sadiq, a sweeper by profession and habitual drinker of home-made liqour (Kuppi or Katchi Sharab as it is commonly known) became the victim along with dozens of others who could not afford to buy safe but expensive liquor. “He would buy Kuppi every evening, despite strong protests from his wife, children and friends,” his brother told The News.

William was a resident of Christian Compound in Moosa Lane, Lyari, which is the worst affected area in the latest tragedy. The Lyari Town police have claimed to have apprehended Aziz Khan and Israr Ahmed, who were allegedly involved in marketing the poisonous liquor in Chakiwara and Baghdadi areas of Lyari. However, they said the main culprit, Bhura Marvari or Bhura Malir-Wala, was still at large.

Sources in the police and the excise and taxation departments, claim that these are cosmetic measures taken by the police. Once the dust settles, bootlegging will be the norm again, the way it happened after the 2007 incident.
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Availability
For those addicted to Katchi Sharab, availability is not an issue as it is available all over the city, often with the patronage of the police.

In Lyari, the business of hooch is allegedly in the hands of notorious gangsters including Rehman Dakait and Jengu while in Liaquatabad it is reportedly prepared and sold by the agents of Arshad Pappu. Of course, there are many other players in the business besides the afore-mentioned ones.

It is also easily available at the Chowkandi Bus Stop on the National Highway near Cattle Colony. In fact, The News found various roadside hotels in the area where moonshine was being openly consumed, despite the presence of police personnel in the area.

Similarly, locally-brewed liquor being sold in Ibrahim Hyderi is very popular among the consumers who travel from city centres to far-flung areas only to get moonshine. “In Ibrahim Hyderi, a dealer sells ginger wine, quite delicious and strong. No other person in the city sells such powerful booze,” Ashraf Masih, a consumer, told The News.
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Police claims
Rana Perwaiz, Superintendent Police (SP), Lyari, said that most people responsible for the sale of poisonous liquor in the area had been arrested including Israr, Jiji Lala, Basit Kana and Fauji. He said that the remaining few would be in police custody very soon.

According to Perwaiz, the police cannot prevent people purchasing industrial spirit or glue (used for sniffing by the junkies) as these products are easily available in the market – a lot of addicts consume these in place of liquor.

“The business of kuppi is mostly run by addicts and consumers who not only purchase industrial spirit for their own use but also sell it to others. We do our best to arrest such people,” he claimed.

Perwaiz said he spoke to doctors at the CHK to ask what went wrong. They told him that tincture benzene was added to the spirit, which proved highly lethal and, thus, caused so many deaths on Holi.

Furthermore, he said that poisonous liquor or kuppi was not available in his controlled area as he has given strict orders not to prevent this illegal activity from taking place. But he said he could not say anything about the other areas of the city.

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