Hyderabad: Liquor sales zoomed to a nationwide record of Rs 585 crore in the state in first 12 days of this month. This is 30 per cent more than what was sold last year.
Distilleries stated that most people who used to drink cheap liquor migrated to branded liquor. Following the serial holidays, liquor worth Rs 413 crore was sold in four days from October 7. About Rs 300 crore worth of liquor was sold in the first three days and Rs 113 crore on October 10.
In Hyderabad, the liquor sales were valued at Rs 106 crore in the four days. The city has 590 bars and 400 liquor shops and topped with 13 per cent growth during the Dasara season, followed by Nalgonda district with Rs 53.58 crore in sales.
About 1.31 lakh cases of beer and 1.2 lakh cases of IML were sold in the first 12 days of the month. Excise and prohibition commissioner R.V. Chandravadan said liquor sales rise during Dasara. "This time the rise was observed in premium brands. The migration has increased from lower brands to premium brands. We have observed a 30-per cent growth this year. Bar and pubs in the IT corridor and prime localities have sold more liquor this year. The state is leading liquor sales across the country," he said.
Enforcement wing officials said all bars in the city were under the scanner during Dasara. Because of this which they did not allow underage persons. Although there is a ban on offers like ‘Happy Hours’. a few bars had offered a one peg of liquor free with every two pegs ordered.
