The Kerala boozer, who shoulders the distinction of country?s top per capita liqour-guzzler, has not wobbled away from his self-imposed mission of beefing up the state tax-kitty this time too.
In fact, in excise and other taxes, IMFL (Indian made foreign liqour) guzzler has contributed 20% extra to state coffers in 2007-2008.
Through the monopoly distribution of liqour alone, the Kerala government has netted Rs 2,913.9 crore. This is one-fifth higher than that of the previous year and a huge chunk of the boozers? spend of Rs 3,669 crore.
In a sad coincidence, it was in March, when the state?s farmsector was rocked by unseasonal rain that the liqour consumption peaked and revealed the IMFL sales statistics. Kerala runs atleast 521 bars and 329 wine shops. An extra 148.01 lakh cases of IMFL ( worth Rs 489.41 crore) was sold in the last fiscal.
Unlike the rest of India, where the whisky segment rules, in Kerala, rum is sold the most. Out of the Rs 52.79-crore worth IMFL sold on just three days in the run-up to Onam, 65% was rum, 33% brandy and about 2% through whisky, vodka, gin and other white beverages. Majestic XXX, Contessa XXX, Columbia XXX, Old Port, McDowell Old Cask, Royal Army XXX, Empee?s Sixer XXX, Old Mariner?s XXX and Old Admiral VSOP are some of the rum brands that Kerala tippler favours.
The turnover of the state?s main bootlegger outfit Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) in 2007-2008 was Rs 3,669.14 crore.
?We expected only 15% increase”, Shankar Reddy, managing director, KSBC, said. ?But the sales went up by 17%,? he added.
One possible explanation for the extra bubble-up in consumption is the gambit of making all KSBC outlets open seven days a week from the last financial year. Earlier in Kerala, one could buy a bottle of booze only six days a week.