Chennai: The annual Pongal liquor sale revenue reached an all-time high this year with the liquor outlets making a total sale of Rs 219 crore and this, according to Tasmac official sources, is a Rs 15 crore surplus sale but the volumes of liquor bottle had gone down by two to five per cent.
When compared to the last year Pongal sale, beer sales increased by ten per cent, but the hard liquor sale dipped by two to three per cent.
Liquor worth Rs 127 crore was sold on Pongal and Bhogi recorded a sale of of Rs 92 crore. Last Pongal, sales were around Rs 204 crore. While the volumes had reduced this year in comparison to last year, the turnaround was achieved due to the recent price revision. The income surged by seven per cent, Tasmac sources said.
North Chennai recorded a 10 per cent dip in sales due to closure of 35 outlets and the sale of liquor in Southern and northern districts were also high during Pongal.
Suburban areas in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur also recorded good sales. Tambaram, Poonamallee, Avadi and Ambattur, which serves as the gateway to Chennai recorded brisk sales throughout the Pongal holidays, sources said.Meanwhile, city police on Tuesday launched a hunt for a trio who were illegally selling liquor on Tiruvallur Day.
According to the police, three members in Shenoy Nagar were selling liquor on the dry day. A team raided apartment in Jothiammal Nagar and 912 liquor bottles were seized from the building, police sources said.
