Rum gives Kerala a high as state coffers swell
August 24th, 2010 - 7:35 pm ICT by IANSThiruvananthapuram, Aug 24 (IANS) Rum and brandy rule Kerala’s liquor market and together account for 94 percent of the sales of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) which is toasting record sales during the Left government’s tenure.
Rum continues to be the most preferred liquor in Kerala, accounting for 55 percent of KSBC sales, followed by brandy with a close to 40 percent share. Vodka accounts for four percent and gin, whisky and wine account for the rest of the sales.
In the present state government’s 52-month tenure, 708.20 lakh cases of liquor were sold as compared to the 513 lakh cases sold during the previous Congress-led government’s tenure from 2001-06, an official said.
According to the figures provided by the KSBC, the sole wholesale suppliers of liquor and beer in the state, during the 52-month tenure of the Left government sales turnover of liquor and beer touched Rs.19,075 crore.
Speaking to IANS, N. Sankar Reddy, managing director of KSBC, said the total cumulative sales turnover of the KSBC since inception in 1984 till 2006 was Rs.18,100 crore.
“In terms of revenue contributed to the state exchequer by way of taxes, KSBC contributed Rs.14,922 crore in the 52 months of the Left rule as compared to the Rs.13,722 crore contributed in the 22 years from 1984 to 2006,” said Reddy.
In comparison, the KSBC’s sales turnover during the previous Congress-led government (2001-06) was Rs.10,570 crore.
From 2001-06, the KSBC sold 513 lakh cases of liquor and 179.88 lakh cases of beer. In the present state government’s tenure, 708.20 lakh cases of liquor and 291.43 lakh cases of beer have been sold.
“Rising revenue figure should not be linked to rising prices because in the past five years, the price of liquor went up once, around 3-6 percent, in the fiscal 2009-10,” said Reddy.
The revenue during the Onam week, ending Thiru Onam day Monday, also shot up by Rs.22 crore as compared to last year.
“This year the revenue was Rs.176.42 crore and last year it was Rs.154.39 crore,” said Reddy.
- Keralites are major liquor guzzlers - Mar 30, 2010
- ABD launches new brandy in Kerala - Feb 02, 2012
- Liquor sales in Kerala reach 'dizzy heights' - Apr 16, 2011
- Alcohol worth Rs.34 crore sold in a single day in Kerala - Sep 01, 2009
- Pay more for liquor, Kerala government told - Apr 17, 2012
- Liquor sales up; Keralites in party mood for Christmas! - Dec 22, 2009
- Kerala liquor, beer sales on a record 'high' - Mar 31, 2009
- Kerala expects Rs.200 crore liquor sales during Onam - Aug 21, 2009
- Chandy asks liquor firms not to stop supplies - Aug 24, 2011
- Liquor wholesaler KSBC proposes hospital - Jan 24, 2010
- Punjab on a 'high', to guzzle over 350 mn liquor bottles - Feb 27, 2011
- We're in dire straits: Kerala distilleries - Aug 19, 2011
- Increased liquor sales up Delhi's excise revenue - Oct 20, 2010
- Punjab hikes liquor prices - Feb 22, 2011
- Kerala government says no to new liquor vends - May 27, 2011
Tags: 22 years, brandy, cumulative sales, gin, government sales, kerala state, ksbc, lakh cases, liquor, onam, record sales, s sales, sales turnover, sankar, state coffers, state exchequer, state government, vodka, whisky, wholesale suppliers