Bangalore: Liquor Sales During Apr to Oct up by Rs 600 Cr over Last Year

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 11: Liquor sales in state went up by a whopping 18 per cent during the seven-month period from April to October this year and enhanced the excise revenue from Rs 3,800 core during the same period last year to an impressive Rs 4,400 crore, registering an increase of Rs 600 crore.

All outlets across the state generated reasonably good business and the excise department has asked its district level officers to identify locations to open more outlets as well as depots, according to Karnataka’s excise minister M P Renukacharya.

The excise minister, who held a review meeting with officials of MSIL, Karnataka state Beverages Corporation Limited and the Department and office-bearers of retail shop owners’ associations, also heard grievances of officials and shop owners.

In terms of revenue growth, the state has registered a 16 per cent increase. 

As against 216 lac cases of liquor sold in April-October last year, sales have touched 255 lac cases during the same period this year, an increase of 18 per cent, he said.

The sale of beer went up from 104 lac cases in April-October this year against 77 lac cases during the same period last year, an increase of 27 lac cases.

Noting that cooperation between liquor shop owners and officials would lessen public complaints against the Department and help to eliminate sale of spurious liquor, the minister said stern action would be taken against all those shop owners who open shops early and close them late in the evening.

According to the department regulations, all the shops are to be open between 10 am and 10.30 pm.

Some owners open their shops as early as 6 am, he said pointing out that they followed their own timings.

Licenses of such shops would be cancelled if they refused to obey the department guidelines, he warned.

To eliminate sale of spurious or illicit liquor, the minister asked taluk, district and state level officials to hold regular raids and inspections.

The taluk level officials have been told to hold gram sabha meetings to check manufacturing of liquor illegally. Shop owners and officials have been told to share information each other for earning more revenue to the state, he added.