Fizz goes out of TASMAC sales, nets Rs 20 cr less over 2016

The increase in the price of liquor, the closure of TASMAC shops along Highways, and the prevailing dengue scare, were attributed as some of the reasons for the dip in revenue. Sources said that the sale of liquor stood at Rs 91 crore on October 17 and it went up to Rs 132 crore, amounting to a total sale of Rs 223 crore.  

Last year,  TASMAC sold Rs 135 crore on Deepavali and Rs 108 crore on the day before. “We had adequate stock of liquor ahead of Deepavali to ensure that the sale was hassle free. The stock levels were increased by 150 per cent,” said an official, speaking to DT Next on condition of anonymity.

When asked about the dip in sales, the official observed that the fall in demand was expected, since the closure of liquor shops along the Highways, following a directive from Supreme Court had already set the trend to some extent. “This time around, the dengue scare too had its impact on the sales. Most revellers who ran a high temperature a few days earlier, stayed off from liquor during Deepavali,” the official claimed. 

On October 11, the State Cabinet approved the revision in the rate of range of Indian Made Foreign Liquor(IMFL) range. It saw an upward revision for hard-liquor (brandy, rum, whiskey, vodka, and gin) per bottle (180 ml), to the tune of Rs 12 to Rs 25 per bottle, and rolled out the revision subsequently. 

In 2016-17, the liquor sale revenue was pegged at Rs 26,995 crore, which includes excise revenue of Rs 6,248 crore and VAT (sales tax) Rs 20, 747 crore.