30BestBarsIndia, the first ranking and awards platform for India’s bars, has started an initiative, ‘BarFuel’as a crowdfunding platform to support bar employees across the country affected by the economic crisis unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bars all over India who need assistance are requested to register on www.30bbbarfuel.in. The details of each bar are then made available to public and corporate donors on the site.
Donors have the option of supporting one bar or multiple bars of their choice directly by clicking the donate now button against the name and picture of each bar.
This is a purely public service initiative and the not retain any commission.
It was founded in 2019 to recognise, rank and award the best of Indian bars and bar professionals through a transparent public poll.
The donated amount will go directly and fully to the bar of their choice, minus the payment commission of the payment gateway. Since this is a Covid-19 relief initiative, Razorpay has waived off the commissions charged by them on any contributions received.
50 bars have already registered on the site including IFBA (Indian Flair Bartenders Association), and more are expected to do so in the coming weeks.
The initiative is gaining support in Kolkata, Delhi - NCR, Mumbai, and Goa, along with a few other cities. Olive Bar and Kitchen in Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, Toast and Tonic in Mumbai and Bangalore, Monkey Bar in Delhi and Kolkata, Fatty Bao in Mumbai and Bangalore, Sidecar in Delhi, Together at 12th in Gurgaon, Perch and Leaping Windows in Mumbai, and The Grid in Kolkata are some of the bars that have already registered.
Even among the industries affected by Covid-19, the bar industry is in an unusual situation. It is expected to be among the last of the businesses that would be allowed to open after the lockdowns are lifted in various cities.
However, continuing social-distancing restrictions would mean that even after the bars are allowed to re-open, it would be a long time before patrons return to bars in large numbers.
The resulting loss of revenue would mean loss of jobs or pay cut for thousands of bar workers across the country.
The 17 bars that have registered on the site alone have a total employee strength of more than 700 and a monthly wage bill of around Rs 1.2 crore.
The company has raised more than Rs 5 lakh on the platform so far from individual donors. The hope is that corporate donors, particularly the big players in the Indian alcobev industry would donate in a big way in the coming weeks.
The company has set an initial target of raising Rs 50 lakh through this crowdfunding effort.
Mumbai bar, Leaping Windows, is the largest recipient of the donations so far on the site.
Bidisha Basu of Leaping Windows, said, "This is a really nice thing you have done. Instead of sitting around and hoping for the best, you've given us something to do. Much appreciated.”
Vikram Achanta, co-founder of 30BestBarsIndia, said, "In our opinion, bars that have actively focussed on building their fan base and their community will find their community coming back to support them. Bars which survive this crisis will also realise we feel the importance of building a strong community and also, more importantly, a personal connection with their patrons.”
Pankaj Kamble from IFBA, said, "Bar fuel is a great platform created at a very important time. It is definitely playing an important role in supporting the needy.”
“This acts as a perfect catalyst,” he added.