Lubricant of diplomacy

Alcohol, it is often said, is the lubricant of diplomacy. India’s external affairs ministry has long preferred orange juice and such like at official functions, in deference to government policy. A new drink is gaining in popularity with Indian diplomats — coffee! External Affairs Minister S M Krishna’s son-in-law, V G Siddhartha, who owns the Cafe Coffee Day chain, is busy going global and Indian diplomats are happy to promote the new ministerial beverage. Best way to get the minister to sign a file, say his officers, is to make sure it smells of coffee!