Liquor revenue up from rising beer sales
The minister also said that a drive titled ‘Moonshine’ had been launched to curb spurious liquor and drugs abuse
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The new liquor policy has brought more revenue to the state from increased beer sale though the consumption of liquor has fallen.
Excise Minister K. Babu told the Assembly on Monday that the revenue from the sale of liquor, beer and wine had increased by Rs 112.09 crore in April and Rs 106.44 crore in May compared to the corresponding months last year. He added that though liquor sale had come down following the closure of bars, the sale of beer had gone up.
The state government has entrusted the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (GIFT) to conduct a study on the impact of the liquor policy, including the changing trends in consumption and revenues.
The study will look into the social and employment impact of the new liquor policy, whether there was any decline in the number liquor users, the changes in consumption patterns, impact on hotel and tourism industry and whether it had triggered the supply of spurious liquor.
The minister also said that a drive titled ‘Moonshine’ had been launched to curb spurious liquor and drugs abuse.