Today is Friday, the day as young Mongolians name “Baasan’s Birthday” and we celebrate that by going out to pubs and clubs. However, by City Mayor resolution No. 01, there will be no sell of any type of alcoholic beverages in stores, bars, and restaurants. How is that? This is possibly the FIRST day ever, without official sell of any alcohol in Mongolia.
It seemed weird, as yesterday after work, I went for a drink with my friend, and we could not find any beer. That was hilarious. I just thanked God that I could at least smoke and have my coffee. Pubs were closing around 9-10pm, as they had no customers.
The reason of such harsh decision was that right before New Year, 12 people have died from poisoning of some vodka, made in Asian Wolf private factory. Almost, 90 people are in hospitals, being treated for intoxication from vodka.
Doesn’t Mongolian Government realize that by prohibiting alcohol trade they are laying the foundation of underground sell of homemade vodkas, which could be more intoxicating? Yesterday, in taxi I heard people talking on their “walkie-talkie” – “I have found someone with permission to sell alcohol, if you need or if you know someone want to purchase Black Chinggis (vodka) and some beer, bring them to the city center.” Moreover, the cab driver confirmed that there is already a network of alcohol trade, such as that one bottle of vodka is reaching the price of 10,000Tg.
Plus, they are prohibiting the profit of private sector, such as stores, bars, restaurants, and pubs, which make majority of their profit from alcohol.
I understand that Government is trying to prevent further poisoning, but they have chosen the wrong verdict to reach their goal. I would not be surprised if there will be more people poisoned from vodkas.
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