Vizag Tops In Liquor Sales With Rs 178.6 Cr
Officials said the trend reflects growing consumer preference for cashless transactions during peak festive demand, with retailers increasingly equipped to handle digital modes seamlessly.
Visakhapatnam: District-wise figures over liquor sales showed wide variations. Visakhapatnam topped the chart with sales of about Rs 178.6 crore, followed by Tirupati at Rs 169.4 crore and NTR district at nearly Rs 155.4 crore. In contrast, districts such as Alluri Sitharama Raju (Rs 30.7 crore), Parvathipuram Manyam (Rs 35.4 crore) and Sri Satya Sai (Rs 65 crore) recorded lower volumes.
Officials said liquor and beer sales remained strong even on January 1, indicating that demand at the start of 2026 continued to outpace last year’s levels, generating substantial revenue for the excise department.
Visakhapatnam witnessed a sharp New Year’s Eve surge, recording liquor sales worth Rs 9.91 crore on December 31 alone. Significantly, digital payments narrowly overtook cash for the first time, signalling a shift in consumer behaviour.
Across the division, digital transactions accounted for Rs.5.05 crore, or 51 per cent of sales, marginally ahead of cash payments at Rs 4.85 crore. While cash continued to dominate in pockets such as Gopalapatnam, Maharanipeta and Gajuwaka, areas like Seethammadhara and Pendurthi saw a clear tilt towards digital payments.
Officials said the trend reflects growing consumer preference for cashless transactions during peak festive demand, with retailers increasingly equipped to handle digital modes seamlessly.