A beer guzzling monkey is among the first to make a beeline for the local liquor shop, so that she can lay her hands on her fix for the day. It started as a joke for some truck drivers, but it has turned into an addiction for this 34 year old primate.
She arrives at the shop on the outskirts of the North Indian city of Kanpur, a right before it opens. She is looking forward to a pint or two from the owner or from any of the amused customers. Locals say that Banno has never failed to visit the beer shop in all the
se years.[Rakesh Singh Chauhan, beer shop owner]: "It is a pet. Earlier the drivers visiting the shop used to give beer just for some lighthearted fun but slowly the monkey got addicted to it. She has been drinking beer for the last 20 years. She drinks at least 2-3 bottles everyday. She is roughly 34-year-old and drinks only beer."
New customers love the sight of the monkey's drinking binge. Most of the customers vouch for her calm behavior, saying she really doesn't misbehave, even when she doesn
't get a beer. And once she has a drink in her hand, she becomes completely oblivious to the world around her.[Atul Singh Sengar, a customer]: "She can even consume 5-6 bottles a day. She does ask for beer from the customers in her own language. She doesn't bite if beer is not given to her. But if she is teased then she can react."
Monkeys are generally revered in India and many Hindus worship them as a form of the monkey-god Hanuman. Devotees often offer fruits and food to the primates.
