Liquor worth Rs.70 crore sold on Onam days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala saw Rs.70 crore worth of liquor sales during the two Onam days Tuesday and Wednesday.

An official from the excise department told IANS that sales on the first day of Onam totalled Rs.34 crore and Rs.24 crore the next day.

"The figures are still coming in. It could be certainly close to Rs.70 crore during the two days," said the official.

While the entire state has a holiday on these two Onam days, the only establishments open are the sales outlets of the Kerala State Beverages Corp, the sole wholesalers of liquor in the state.

Liquor in Kerala is sold through 708 bar hotels and 383 state-owned retail outlets.

Rum remains the most preferred drink, accounting for more than 55 percent followed by brandy (close to 40 percent) and Vodka (four percent). Gin, whisky and wine account for the rest.

Sales of liquor in the last fiscal crossed a record Rs.7,000 crore and the revenue to the state government by way of taxes crossed Rs.6,000 crore.

This fiscal the sales are expected to cross Rs.8,000 crore and the state exchequer will get more than Rs.7,000 crore.