Liquidity crunch: more people turn to opaque beer

A group of neatly dressed men in designer suits are playing pool at an open joint in Glen Norah High Density Surburb, Harare.

This being a Friday, the group is killing time after a long working day and have decided to chill at a popular barbeque spot known as Kwa Farai.

After a while, a waiter comes and they order their Chibuku Super-brand of opaque beer.

This has become a trend at many drinking spots, with sleek women occasionally seen sharing opaque beer alongside their male counterparts.

The subdued economic performance and current liquidity crunch that the country is facing has permeated across all social spheres, and beer drinkers have not been spared.

Lately, beer drinking trends have changed drastically and lagers seem only to be the preserve of a few 'haves', with most opting for opaque beer and other sorghum brews.

Back in the day, most of people would avoid being seen holding and drinking opaque beer (scud)as it was considered a brew set aside for 'loafers' and the 'have nots'.

"My brother, things are tight, bag harisi kutenderera. Mutown murikupisa saka zvirinani ndidhakwe hangu ne Super, kudhakwa kwakafanana (there is no liquid in circulation so I have opted for opaque beer)," said Taurai Manzou, a city banker.

"We  are now focusing on value for money products and if I buy my two litres of scud for $2, I know I will get high and still have extra money for meat to feed my family," concurred Tanetswa Nyamutamba, a soldier

In street lingua, opaque beer is known as masese and it was a rare sight to see young professionals imbibing such liquor.

However, with no money in town, masese has become one of the most popular alcoholic drinks across the social divide.

Go to social spots like Mereki, Kwa Farai, Ku Huku and so on, opaque beer rules the roost.

Beer drinkers have realised that the fundamental aim of drinking beer is to eventually get tipsy and get the drunk sensation.

Thus, they can now drink anything alcoholic with those on the lower end of the social strata opting for illicit brews like Zed and Blue Diamond.

Most of the young professionals have turned to 'scud' and other sorghum beers.

However, Zimbabweans are very innovative and always find stylish ways of doing things and normalising the 'abnormal'.

The young professionals carry with them cooler boxes and nice tumblers where they drink the opaque beer from – reason being to add a bit of style and 'swag'!

Even companies who usually splashed money on liquor at their corporate events have cut down on that, and some even buying opaque beer at these occasions .

Most company executives seem to favour the Super Chibuku – a new brand of opaque beer unveiled by Delta Beverages.

Last week, Delta Beverages released   a trading update report for the first quarter of 2014 and revealed that there is sustained growth in sorghum beer consumption against a decline in lager and sparkling beverages consumption.

The lager beer volume consumption is 21% below last year's,   for this quarter.

Opaque beer consumption recorded a 15%  increase in this quarter – according to the report.

These statistics are clear testimony that the liquidity crunch is biting beer drinkers.

Gone are the days when expensive whiskeys like Johnny Walker Black Label, Famous Grouse, Glenfidich and so forth were the 'staple diet' for most drinkers.

However, a small circle can still afford such luxury drinking.

It is common that in economic situations like ours that  some will  be making a big killing through 'rent seeking' behaviour.