THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite closing 26 of its outlets on October 2 in step with the government’s liquor policy, the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) sold more liquor in October than in September. The demand for brandy, rum and vodka rose in October compared to the previous month while other alcoholic beverages, beer and wine included, saw a slight dip in sales.
Bevco sold 88,968 cases (9.08 lakh litres) of liquor - including beer and wine - more in October than in September, reveal sales data of Bevco for September and October.
In September, the state-run liquor monopoly sold 28,23,843 cases of rum, brandy, whisky, gin, vodka, wine and beer. In October, the total sale stood at 29,12,811 cases. (One case equals a dozen 750 ml bottles).
The closure was part of its stated policy to shut down 10 per cent liquor shops every year. In fact, 13 shops had been closed down in January as part of a diktat from the Centre on liquor outlets on highways. The increase in sales during October is largely driven by rum, brandy and vodka, the data reveal. Whisky, gin, wine and beer sales saw a slight dip, Bevco sources said. Brandy sales rose from 8.45 lakh cases in September to 9.25 lakh cases in October, while rum sales shot up from 6.32 lakh cases to 7.29 lakh cases. Likewise, the demand for vodka went up from 57,775 cases to 64,140 cases.
With the government sanctioning more than 700 new wine and beer parlours following the shut-down of bars, beer and wine sales had shot up to alarming levels in the state. Wine, which used to sell at 5,000 to 6,000 cases a month before the bars were closed down, sold 12,896 cases in September and 10,932 cases in October. Bevco sold 12.51 lakh cases of beer in September, but October witnessed a slight dip; 11.59 lakh cases.
A recent study by the Alcohol and Drug Information Centre-India found ‘absolute alcohol’ intake via Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands and beer and wine combined in the state had dipped by 9.64 per cent. But alcohol intake via beer and wine individually had risen by 61.83 per cent and 249.17 per cent respectively. The study compared Bevco’s liquor sales during April-September 2015 to the same period in 2014.