National Desk, 26th December: The state of Kerala experienced a remarkable surge in liquor sales during the Christmas season of 2023, setting a new record for festive consumption. Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) outlets reported unprecedented liquor sales totaling Rs 154.77 crore over a span of just three days, surpassing the previous year’s figures and emphasizing the significant role of alcohol sales in Kerala’s economy.
On Christmas Eve alone, Bevco outlets witnessed a bustling trade, with liquor sales reaching Rs 70.73 crore, a slight increase from the prior year’s Rs 69.55 crore. The days leading up to this peak, December 22nd and 23rd, also saw robust sales totaling Rs 84 crore, compared to Rs 75 crore during the same period the previous year.
The Chalakudy outlet led the sales with a business of Rs 63.85 lakhs, closely followed by the outlets in Changanassery and Irinjalakuda. Notably, the Powerhouse Road outlet in Thiruvananthapuram, typically dominant during the festive season, fell to the fourth spot, while the North Paravoor outlet rounded out the top five.
These figures not only highlight the high demand for alcoholic beverages during the holiday season but also underscore the significant contribution of liquor sales to the state’s revenue. In the fiscal year from March 31, 2022, to March 31, 2023, the government of Kerala earned a substantial Rs 16,100 crore in tax revenue from liquor sales, with total income from these sales reaching Rs 18,500 crore.