Indians who love Scotch whisky, French wine or Spanish sherry have long had to pay through the nose - or make do with watered down local equivalents - because their government imposes punitive taxes and duties that can raise the price of foreign tipples by as much as 300%.

But Europe's trade commissioner is riding to the rescue: he plans to challenge India's discriminatory taxes on wines and spirits at the WTO.

If the EU wins, he will be the toast of town among Mumbai's champagne-starved stockbrokers. And at least officials at the commerce ministry in Delhi will be able to drown their sorrows with a fine Scotch.