Fall in liquor sales post bar closure

KOCHI: While a debate is taking place on the new liquor policy in Kerala, it has been revealed that there has been a significant drop in the consumption of liquor and beer since 418 bars were closed down on April 1. This is shown in the statistics of Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco), the government body selling liquor and beer to individual consumers and bars.

The only exception was in May 2014 when 14.98 lakh more litres of liquor was sold through Bevco outlets compared to April. However, compared to four immediate months prior to the closure of bars, much less liquor and beer was sold across the state in the succeeding four months. There was a drop of 18,72,598 litres in the liquor sales  in  April, May, June and July in 2014 together compared to the previous  four months of December, January, February and March. In beer sales, there was a huge fall of 97,86,843 litres during the period.

The statistics from 22 warehouses for the first four months of  financial year 2014-15 (April, May June & July) reveal that IMFL sales  dropped by 10,93,201 litres  and beer sales by 11,12,813 litres  compared to the corresponding period of April, May, June and July 2013-14. “It has to be noted that this drop has occurred in a market which has been registering an annual growth of 12  percent  to 67 percent during the past 30 years.

These statistics reveal that most of the drinkers who  enjoy their drink in  bar restaurants have abstained or reduced their drinking frequency as they could get their stuff only through Bevco outlets,” said Mr Johnson Edayaranmula, director, Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC)-India. He said  WHO’s ‘policy guidelines for alcohol control’, which states that “addressing easy availability is one of the most effective strategies in bringing down the demand,”  has proved right with regard to the liquor consumption in Kerala.