DRINK DEEP

'A day without wine could well be a day without sunshine' - but that is a French proverb. (Delhi is anyway a sunny place - a silly logic to assume, just in case you decide to have a dinner menu replete with wine!)

The wining facilities of the city, whatever available, still match the best in India and even abroad. The liquor availability and also its consumption is closely monitored and governed by the city's excise department. The city has however adequate number of licensed wine shops operating till late evening and hotel & restaurant bars dispensing liquor till about 11:00 pm. An outlet is permitted to dispense liquor only to guests above the age of 21 and reserve the right to politely refuse you additional servings in case so required or refuse serving after a stipulated time. Happy Hours are an add-on feature with these bars -usually in the evenings.

The best of beverages are available in the 5-star hotels as they are licensed to serve imported beverages and also smoke (which most bars do not offer otherwise). Wining with meals is a recommended option. There are frequent wine, beer, cocktail promotions and festivals organised by the popular bars. Most bars levy a corkage charge or do not allow outside liquor to be served.

There are a few good bars and pubs in the elite city clubs but the entry is only to members or for those who can manage to tag along with one as his guest! There is certainly a void of pubs in the otherwise developed entertainment facilities in the city. The proposals are however under consideration and after having loosened the noose with the availability of foreign brands and other regulations, a liberal development is awaited.

Another good thing about the city's nightlife is the availability of beverages at the discotheques. But the bad thing is that there is an entry fee and there is no entry as stags!

Wining in Delhi should not come as a rude shock to you! You may be let down here hunting for pint of draught beer or worse still a can of Stout. A revered Chateaux wine of your country may be unheard of here. You may be left high & 'dry' in a party not finding anything other than beer (with ice!) and whiskey (with soda) being passed around! You may also earn the long lost respect of the bar-staff in case you could specify your martini (dry - as a prefix or suffix) or reconfirm a rare order of Champagne (French that is) and not the Riviera or Grover sparkling wine!

Drink deep or taste not the Pierrian Spring is an old adage. Delhi and its people lag far behind in it. But they are certainly catching up. You too could see them and start drinking deep when in Delhi. But ensure that your brand is available, you look an adult, you do not revel in public, and you do not become intoxicated, that it is not a dry day… CHEERS!

-Saurabh Sharma