THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There was an increase in sales of Indianmade foreign liquor by 1.24 lakh cases (11 lakh litres) in the month of June, 2014, compared to the same period last year, Excise, Fisheries and Ports Minister K Babu has said.
The minister also announced that to further strengthen the sensitisation against consumption of liquor, the government would levy .3 per cent more cess on liquor. He was replying to the discussions on the Demand for Grants for Excise, Fisheries and Ports Departments in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Rejecting the claim that the sales of IMFL had recorded a decline after the closure of 418 bars in the state, K Babu said that in fact there was a rise in the sales of liquor. From April 1, 2014, to June 27, 2014, the sales of liquor amounted to `2471 crore. In the corresponding period last year, the sales amounted to `2,266 crore. This amounts to an increase of 10 per cent in sales this year.
While the increase in sales in April was `93 crore, the sales recorded an increase of Rs 106 crore in May and `83 crore up to June 28 this year. The minister said there was an average increase in sales of 1.60 lakh cases every month. The sales of liquor from Bevco since April, 2014, recorded an increase of 84 per cent. Earlier in the day, while participating in the discussion, T N Prathapan of the Congress claimed that the closing down of 418 bars had resulted in the decline in the sale and consumption of liquor. ‘Dry Day’ He said as declared by the Chief Minister the Government has declared the antinarcotic day as ‘dry day’. Bevco is currently giving 1 per cent of its revenue for providing generic medicines as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR).
The de-addiction centres will be given `1.01 crore. Referring to measures to curb drug abuse in the state, the minister said in the case of drugs it was the Central Act which is applicable in the state which made the possession of ganja upto 1 kg a bailable offence.