OMI Aka The Old Monk Index, a fascinating concept coined by my friend Ernest, is a way to classify restaurants in Goa based the price of a 30 ml peg of Old Monk as a benchmark. For context, a 750 ml bottle of Old Monk retails for approximately Rs. 220, yielding about 25 pegs of 30 ml each. That calculates to roughly Rs. 9 per peg.
There has been a McDonald's Big Mac index to look at burger prices across countries but the OMI is as local as it can get and can be used in any part of India. However, you need to benchmark to local prices as Alcohol prices vary significantly across India with some brands not being available in some states.
When you venture into different establishments, you encounter varying cost structures. At Anand Ashram in Miramar, a 30 ml peg of old Monk costs Rs. 40 (OMI = 4.44) . At Joets on Bogmalo Beach, you're charged Rs. 200 for a 60 ml peg (OMI = 11.11) Seashells, located at Siridao, offers 60 ml for Rs. 150 (8.33). I recall Fisherman's Wharf offering a 60 ml peg for Rs. 300 at one time (OMI=8.33). At the new Club Palma in Aldeia, a 30 ml peg runs at Rs. 200 (OMI= 22.22)
These prices offer a spectrum of choice which may reflect the decor and ambiance of each venue. Anand Ashram is recognized as a value-for-money destination. Though Joets also provides a pleasant atmosphere, the Old Monk pricing is on the steeper side. However, among us, there's a consensus that Seashells offers the best combination of value, food, and ambiance. With music every night and a beautiful location right on the beach at Siridao, overlooking the sea, it provides a memorable experience.
Perhaps hotels opt for such pricing to attract patrons genuinely interested in the overall dining and drinking experience. We haven't compared these prices with other brands, making it challenging to draw comprehensive conclusions. Some establishments may use pricing as a means to deter those who might come solely for the affordable Old Monk, ensuring a certain standard of clientele.
Like the OMI we need to develop and look at simpler indices to guide us in our decisions when it comes to simple pleasures of life though simple is not easy!
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