Alcohol (''Raksi'' or ''Madira'') is Legal to produce 60 Litres of fermented beverage and distill 30 Litres Raksi per year for personal consumption, but it's illegal to sell home made Spirits ''Raksi'' in
Nepal
Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne,
सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
. The mixed society, coupled with caste and multiple ethnic results in extremely complex social behaviour. Based on the caste and religion, there are two types of people in Nepal depending upon alcohol uses. The group of people who do not drink or use alcohol are called ''Tagadhari'' () (Holy Cord (''Janai'') Wearer), and the other group who drink alcohol are called ''Matawali''. Generally, the Brahmins and Kshatriyas are the Janai wearer and do not drink alcohol, but with the exception of ''Matwali Chhetries'' of Karnali who are permitted to use alcohol. Matwali uses alcohol for their traditional purposes and generally brew alcohol by themselves. People such as
Kirati people
The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
,
Magar,
Gurung
Gurung (exonym; ) or Tamu (endonym; Gurung: ) are an ethnic group indigenous to the hills and mountains of Gandaki Province of Nepal. Gurung people predominantly live around the Annapurna region in Manang, Mustang, Dolpo, Kaski, Lamjung, Gorkha, ...
,
Tamang
The Tamang (; Devanagari: तामाङ; ''tāmāṅ'') are an Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group of Nepal. In Nepal Tamang/Moormi people constitute 5.6% of the Nepalese population at over 1.3 million in 2001, increasing to 1,539,830 as of the 2011 c ...
,
Newars
Newar (; new, नेवार, endonym: Newa; new, नेवा, Pracalit script:) or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley and its surrounding areas in Nepal and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation ...
use alcohol freely.
Traditionally, in the group of Matwali, males are allowed to drink freely while women are somewhat restricted to use alcohol.
History
![Woman brewing raksi (Nepali whisky) (4515010811)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Woman_brewing_raksi_%28Nepali_whisky%29_%284515010811%29.jpg)
In Hindu culture, alcohol is often described as
Soma
Soma may refer to:
Businesses and brands
* SOMA (architects), a New York–based firm of architects
* Soma (company), a company that designs eco-friendly water filtration systems
* SOMA Fabrications, a builder of bicycle frames and other bicycle ...
. In the epic of
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
and
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
, there are mentions of drinking alcohol by god and goddesses as a recreational food. In ancient and medieval Nepal, the
Kirats
The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
,
Shakyas
Shakya (Pāḷi: ; sa, शाक्य, translit=Śākya) was an ancient eastern sub-Himalayan ethnicity and clan of north-eastern region of the Indian subcontinent, whose existence is attested during the Iron Age. The Shakyas were organise ...
,
Lichhavis, etc. had already made a trade relationship with
Tibet
Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, and
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
from where drinking culture probably entered Nepal. The Lele inscription of
Shivadev I and
Amshuverma
Amshuverma or Amshu Verma (595 CE - 621 CE; Devanagari: अंशुवर्मा) rose to the position of ''Mahasamanta'' (equivalent to prime minister) about 595 CE when King Sivadev I was ruling in the Licchavi (kingdom) of Nepal. By 604 A ...
dated 526 AD mentioned alcohol as ''Paniyagosthi''. In the inscription of
Jayalambha dated 413AD, the word ''Karanapuja'' is used referring to the alcohol; the inscription was found near
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple ( ne, श्री पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is located in Kathmandu, Nepal.
This temple was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. This "extensive ...
.
The Christian Father
Ippolito Desideri
Ippolito Desideri or Hippolyte Desideri (21 December 1684 – 14 April 1733) was an Italian Jesuit missionary and traveller and the most famous of the early European missionaries to visit Tibet. He was the first documented European ethnic groups ...
, who travelled Nepal about 1720, had a written account of a pungent-smelling liquor made from millet. He also mentions ''arac'', a drink made from wheat or rice.
In modern Nepal, the
Maluki Aain of 1854 categorically classified Nepalese society into five categories. One of them was the ''Tagadhari'' who were not allowed to drink, while the remaining four were allowed to drink. In the modern constitution, however, there is no such distinction and everyone is equally allowed to use alcohol-based on their personal preference.
Tradition and religion
Alcohol is used for various rituals by various indegeneious communities especially the one influenced by
Tantric methods. Some are described below.
Sherpas
Sherpas
The Sherpa are one of the Tibetan ethnic groups native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal, Tingri County in the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Himalayas. The term ''sherpa'' or ''sherwa'' derives from the Sherpa language words ("east") ...
use alcohol in marriage and festivals extensively. It is also given to the new mothers as ''Dejyang''. When used as a business settlement, it is called ''Chhongjyang''.
Newars
![SwetaBhairav-Sfxr](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/SwetaBhairav-Sfxr.jpg)
''Ha Thon'' is a festival to worship
Swyeta Bhairab in which the ''Samayabji'' and ''Aila'' is distributed as the blessing of Bhairab. Alcohol also forms a part of
Sagan.
In gathering and festival (''Bhoj''), liquor is generally served by a female.
Tharus
During the marriage, alcohol is offered to deities called ''Deuryar''. In the hair cutting ritual celebrated in Falgun (February -March), alcohol is offered to deities to accept the ritual's starting. Drinking and dancing are one of the core cultures of Tharus.
Kirat
In the kirati community, a marriage proposal is not accepted by the girl’s family unless the groom sends them alcohol on three occasions as ''Sodhani'', ''Multheki'' and '' Bhakah''. Kirati also use alcohol for various rituals and to worship gods and goddesses.
Tamang
Groom needs to send 18 or 12 bottles of liquor to bride's house for marriage known as ''Chukunlah Pong''. When someone dies, alcohol is offered to the deceased. The daughter brings alcohol to serve the funeral participants.
Magar
Couples are not allowed to go to the bride's home after marriage without taking wine and a leg of goat. This is called ''Duran''.
Gurung
Similar to kirati culture, Gurung family's marriage initiation also starts by sending alcohol to the bride's family by the groom. They also use alcohol as an offering to the deceased person.
Types of alcohol
*
Aila: It is a distilled alcohol. The term ''Aila'' is used by Newars, ''Madh'' by Tharus and ''Daru'' in southern Nepal.
*
Raksi
Raksi (Devanagari:रक्सी) or Rakshi (Bantawa language: Hengmawa/Hengma, Limbu language: Sijongwaa aara, Nepal Bhasa: aila) is the Nepali term for a traditional distilled alcoholic beverage in Nepal, India (Darjeeling, Sikkim) and Tibet. ...
: Raksi is a general term to refer to traditionally distilled alcohol.
*
Tongba
Tongba ( ne, तोङबा ) is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal and neighbouring Indian regions of Sikkim and Darjeeling. It is the traditional drink of the Limbu people as well as people of ...
: It is the traditional and indigenous drink of the
Limbu people
The Limbu (exonym) or Yakthung (endonym) are a Sino-Tibetan indigenous tribe (Bhot-Burmeli) of the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and western Bhutan.
The original name of the Limbu is ''Yakthung'' () or ''Yakthum''. Limbu males ar ...
as well as people of other Kirati communities and many other ethnic group of Nepal. . It is home-brewed fermented beer that is drunk by mixing with hot water. It is native to eastern Nepal.
*
Chhaang
Chhaang or chhyang (, ne, छ्याङ, new, थो:) is a Nepalese and Tibetan alcoholic beverage also popular in parts of the eastern Himalayas, Yakkha, Limbu, Dura, Newar, Sunuwar, Rai, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, Tamang and Lepcha comm ...
: It is a sweet-tasting, home-brewed beer by Sherpas. It is also known as ''Ji'' by Tamangs, ''Thon'' by Newars, ''Phee'' by Thakalis, ''Jand'' by Gurngs and kiratis, ''Muna'' by Majhis and ''Janra'' by Tharus.
*
Tin Pani: It means 3 times water in Nepali. It is traditional distilled alcohol prepared by changing the condencing water for only 3 times .
* Arac: A drink made from wheat or rice, used in Medieval Nepal.
* Thon: A term used by Newars for a
fermented drink
This is a list of fermented foods, which are foods produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms. In this context, Fermentation in food processing, fermentation typically refers to the fermentation of sugar to ethanol, alcohol using yeas ...
* Jaad: traditional, home-brewed beer
* Nigar: Same as Jaad, terms used in eastern Nepal
*
Mada
Mada ( sa, मद) is a term used in both Āstika and nāstika, Hindu theology and Hindu mythology, mythology. It is one of the Arishadvargas. It refers to one of the six enemy of the mind or a vice according to the Hindu texts, Hindu scriptures ...
: Distilled Spirits in the hilly and Himali region of Eastern Rukum ( ne, पूर्वी रुकुम)
File:Tongba_-_Nepalese_fermented_millet_beer.jpg, Tongba
File:Newari Anti with Khola.jpg, Anti, a vessel in which to keep Aila
File:EVEREST SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION BEER POKHARA NEPAL FEB 2013 (8510731451).jpg, Industrial Beer
File:Tongba Chowk, Hile, Dhankuta, Nepal.jpg, Intersection dedicated to Tongba
Tongba ( ne, तोङबा ) is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal and neighbouring Indian regions of Sikkim and Darjeeling. It is the traditional drink of the Limbu people as well as people of ...
Traditional Breweing
![Distillery Nagarkot Nepal](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Distillery_Nagarkot_Nepal.jpg)
Beer
A typical traditional beer brewing technique in Nepal consist of following steps:
#The grain is wetted for few hours and then kept in a large earthen pot with holes in bottom ''(Ghyampo)''
#It is then transferred to copper vessel ''(Potasi)'' and boiled in hot water for about two hours
#After boiling, it is cooled and a piece of charcoal(''hyangva'') and chilly (''Malta'')) is kept over the grain to protect it from evil
# Yeast (''Marcha'') is added (about the ratio of 1:80) and let the grain for fermentation
# after a week, the mix is put in an earthen pot (''Tyapa'') and covered with leaves in the top and sealed. At this point, the grain is called ''Haja'' or ''Ium''
#Water is poured after about four days in the process called ''La Tayagu''
#After about six hours, liquid changes to beer
Consumption
According to stastistics, about of rice is used to brew alcohol by Newar family annually, 110kg by Sherpas, 160 kg by Khumbu and Rolwalingis. Tamang uses 80kg and 400 kg by Tharus.
Industries
Alcohol industry is one of the fastest-growing industry in Nepal. There are 36 alcohol producing industries in Nepal as of 2000.
These industries produces alcohol with concentration of 20%, 34%, 40% and 42.8%. Similarly, beers are produced with a concentration of 5 to 7% alcohol. The total production capacity is about 42 M liters per year. Besides, alcohol is also imported from Europe, America and Japan.
Regulation
Production and consumption of alcohol is controlled by the ''Madira Aain 2031''. Licence is required to sell alcohol. However, it permits brewing and consumption for household purposes without a license.
In 2017, a regulation was passed to set minimum age of 21 for alcohol purchase, regulate time of alcohol sales, require licensing of alcohol outlets and impose a ban on all kinds of alcohol advertisements and promotions. It also includes pictorial warning signs in the label of alcohol.
References
{{reflist
Alcohol in Nepal