'Alcohol-Craving Rats' Target Government Storeroom; 200 Beer Cans Consumed

'Alcohol-craving rats' in the dry state of Bihar have found an ingenious way to satisfy their thirst for liquor by targeting government stores. The serial drinkers have reportedly consumed 200 cans of beer in Kaimur district of Bihar.

The police had kept the confiscated beer cans in the excise department storeroom. However, on Monday, it was found that the cans had holes on their aluminum-and-steel top. When the matter came to light, the cops pinned the blame on the rodents.

"It looks like the doing of rats. There were around six to seven cartons in the godown and all the cans were empty," said Bhabua sub-divisional magistrate Kumari Anupama Singh.

This is not the first time the rodents have consumed copious amounts of booze. In May 2017, several lakh litres of alcohol that went missing in Patna were swigged by rats, according to officials.

"Rats adapt to change according to the surrounding habitat. It is quite possible that if the rats stay at a place where water is not available, they can consume liquor alternatively. But I do not agree with claims that the rodents can guzzle hundreds of litres of liquor," said Gopal Sharma, scientist at Zoological Survey of India.

*Report: Times of India*