It may sound surprising but the state set a new record in beer sales in December 2009, the coldest month this season. The overall liquor sales also registered a record high of Rs 1,104 crore last month despite or because of ? agitations for and against separate Telangana state.
Though liquor outlets remained closed for several days because of bandhs and stirs, alcohol consumption had no effect.
Though chilled beer is in high demand during summer, the sale figures of the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited show that a whopping 24.78 lakh cases, including 15 lakh cases of strong beer, were sold in December. This was in sharp contrast to the monthly average sale of 17 lakh cases since April 2009.Though liquor outlets remained closed for several days because of bandhs and stirs, alcohol consumption had no effect.
Sale of Indian-made liquor also touched new records during the agitations. In all, 35.47 lakh cases, including 21.98 lakh cases of cheap liquor, were soled in December.
The sale figures of Indian-made liquor in October and November was 33.28 lakh and 31.39 lakh cases respectively.
“While the revenue from alcohol sales touched Rs 1,000 crore in July, it skyrocketed to Rs 1104.20 crore in December, the highest ever the APBCL registered so far,” said a senior excise official.
According to excise officials, hectic political activities in the state is likely to boost sales figures further.
The state is poised to have a revenue earning of more than Rs 10,000 crore from excise this financial year. Revenue earning in 2009-2010 was Rs 8,659 crore till December against Rs 9,932 crore in 2008-2009 and Rs 8,338 crore in 2007-2008.
Liquor sale had doubled in the last five years from Rs 5,363 crore in 2005-2006 to almost Rs 10,000 this fiscal. Price hike of various items also helped the government earn additional revenue.
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