HYDERABAD: Telangana’s liquor sales have shown significant growth with the excise department generating Rs 14,230 crore (combined beer and IMFL) in the first six months of this fiscal year. Most of it, however, largely rides on sales in districts. Hyderabad ranks third among the state’s districts with most sales. Beer sales increased in September this year after a decline due to price increases.
The total earnings from liquor sale was Rs 2,250 crore more in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year (April-September 2020), when sales contributed Rs 11,800 crore. Hyderabad, which has the most liquor stores, is in third place with Rs 1,483 crore in booze sales. Rangareddy district has the highest liquor sales, with Rs 3,241 crore, followed by Nalgonda district, with Rs 1,599 crore.
According to department sources, Rangareddy has more stores and pubs in the metropolitan area, whereas sales in Nalgonda are strong due to the current situation in neighbouring AP. In the last six months, the state’s 2,216 liquor outlets, pubs and bars sold a total of 1.7 crore liquor cases and 1.57 beer cases. In September, beer sales were on the rise which had been declining for a few months due to a price increase from Rs 90 to Rs 150.
The 20% Covid- 19 cess on liquor bottles is still in effect throughout the state while prices increased from May last year. But after the state government cut prices, sales increased significantly. In September this year, a total of 24 lakh beer cases were sold, up from 21 lakh in the same month last year. The state earned a total of Rs 2,267 crore in September of this year from liquor (beer and IMFL) sales.
