Impact of the Palestine-Israel War and Boycott issue on Beverage Consumption and Supply in Dhaka

Abstract

The Palestine-Israel conflict has affected markets in many parts of the world including Bangladesh. In Dhaka, sales of popular drinks like Coca-Cola have dropped by around 23% because of boycotts regarding the conflict. Most of the studies usually talk about the global trade or political side of the issue but not so much about local consumer markets. This study investigates how people in Dhaka are changing their buying habits and how the beverage supply chain is dealing with it. Applying a qualitative exploratory method data was collected from 40 retailers and 40 consumers using semi-structured questionnaires. To understand the price side and imports,  World Bank reports were also checked. The findings showed three clear things. First, many consumers (about 78%) moved to local brands such as Mojo because of ethical reasons. Second, retailers reported supply problems, like higher costs and irregular stock. Third, social media had a big role, since 62% of people said online posts and campaigns influenced their choice. In the end, it seems that the conflict has reshaped Dhaka’s beverage market. Local brands are now stronger, and businesses as well as policymakers need to adjust to make the benefits long last they are getting in these circumstances.  Future research can focus more on whether these changes will last or if things will go back to normal later.