Andhra Pradesh tipplers guzzle down Rs 518-cr booze this summer
VISAKHAPATNAM: Visakhapatnam topped liquor sales in the state for three consecutive months -- March, April, May, registering a sale of Rs 518 crore, followed by East Godavari district at Rs 493.93 crore. The figures for the corresponding months last year was Rs 390 crore and Rs 387 crore respectively.
Excise officials TINE spoke to said sales had shot up by 30 to 40 per cent compared to last summer. High mercury levels and the IPL season seem to have boosted the demand for beer more than Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IML), the officials said.
According to data available with the Excise Department, Rs 177 crore worth of liquor was sold in March as against the Rs 95 crore sold in the month last year. In East Godavari, sales touched Rs 145 crore in
March this year, against last year’s Rs 92 crore.
In April, Visakhapatnam guzzled down Rs 150 crore, so did East Godavari. In May, liquor worth Rs 190 crore was sold in Visakhapatnam, a significant hike compared last year’s Rs 144 crore. East Godavari sold Rs 197 crore.
“Due to high temperatures and the IPL season, beer sold faster than IML. On an average 3 lakh beer cases were sold in Vizag and EG district per month this summer,” said a senior official from the Excise Department in Visakhapatnam district.
