Festive season and Keralites’ high liquor consumption is a familiar trend, and this Christmas followed the same pattern. According to the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), the sole distributor of liquor in the state, liquor sales in the state on December 24 and 25 alone reached ₹152.06 crore, marking a 24.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
According to the KSBC, the total liquor sold during December 24 and 25 in 2023, the total liquor sale Kerala was worth Rs 122.14 core, which has now increased by Rs 29.92 crore. KSBC sources suggest that since there was no price hike in liquor over the past year, the increase in turnover likely corresponds to a rise in the quantity of liquor sold.
Of the total sales during the Christmas season, liquor worth ₹126.04 crore was sold through KSBC’s retail outlets, commonly referred to as 'Bevco' outlets. The remaining amount was sold through KSBC warehouses.
With New Year celebrations approaching, further increases in liquor sales are anticipated. Given that the tax and duties on liquor in Kerala amount to approximately 250%, the rise in sales could result in additional revenue for the state, which continues to face financial constraints.
