Karnataka records Rs 408 cr sales in liquor

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: As the new year approaches, breweries across the state have had a great day at the office, encashing Rs 408 crore in sales as on Saturday, December 28. According to the State Wine Merchants’ association, a total of 12,614 liquor shops in the state, including 3,988 wine shops (CL 2), 279 clubs (CL 4), 78 star hotels (CL 6A), 2,382 hotels and lodgings (CL & 7), 68 military canteens (CL 8), 3,634 bars and restaurants (CL 9), 1,041 MSILs (CL 11C) and 745 RVBs. On normal days, the government would have earned Rs 65-70 crore through the department due to the sale of liquor.

However, it had declared a holiday on Friday (December 27) in view of the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This also clashed with the fourth Saturday of the month, which is usually a holiday. On the request of the Association to allow the lifting of liquor in view of the consecutive holidays, the Karnataka State Beverage Corporation Limited (KSBCL) has allowed sale of liqour in depots, for the first time in the country on credit, and 6 lakh boxes of Indian Made Liquor (IML) worth Rs. 327 crore and 4 lakh boxes of beer worth Rs. 80 crore have been purchased. With this, the sale of liquor has reached a record level in the history of excise. This trend is expected to continue at New Year’s celebrations.