Liquor sales in Telangana have hit record levels just ahead of the Dasara festival, with shop owners lifting stock worth over Rs 1,000 crore from state government depots in a span of only four days, between September 26 and October 1, Deccan Chronicle reported.
The festival this year coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, a day when liquor shops remain closed. This led both retailers and customers to stock up in advance. Outlets filled their inventories to meet the anticipated festive rush, while consumers purchased liquor in bulk to avoid any shortage during celebrations.
Dasara generally drives up liquor demand as people organise celebrations, gatherings and parties for three days, a day before the festival, on the festival, and a day after.
According to excise department records, liquor sales were particularly high on consecutive days: Rs 260 crore on September 28, Rs 279 crore on September 29, Rs 301 crore on September 30, and Rs 320 crore on October 1. In just two days, September 30 and October 1, sales touched Rs 620 crore.
Comparing figures from last year, this year’s numbers have far outpaced previous sales. During the nine-day Dasara festivities in 2023, total liquor sales stood at Rs 1,057 crore, whereas this year, the Rs 1,000 crore mark was surpassed in only four days.
Liquor sales in Telangana have shown consistent growth since the state’s formation in 2014. In 2014-15, total sales were around Rs 10,000 crore, and projections for 2024-25 estimate sales at Rs 34,600 crore. Over the years, sales have steadily risen, Rs 12,706 crore in 2015-16, Rs 14,184 crore in 2016-17, Rs 17,594 crore in 2017-18, Rs 20,859 crore in 2018-19, Rs 27,288 crore in 2020-21, Rs 30,783 crore in 2021-22, and Rs 35,145 crore in 2022-23.
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