Telangana in high spirits as liquor sales zoom to 9,000 crore

Hyderabad: In a remarkable performance, Telangana State Excise and Prohibition department has achieved the revenue target of Rs 9,000 crore through liquor sales two weeks before end of the financial year. The government has set Rs 8,999 crore revenue target in 2017-18.

It was second consecutive year that Telangana achieved revenue targets in liquor sales. Growing liquor consumption and price hike of whisky and other wine products was the main reasons to fulfill the targets set by the State government, the Excise officials said.

The Excise officials said the liquor consumption in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had been increased by 25 per cent when compared to last year. More than 30 per cent of the total revenue from liquor sales was generated from GHMC alone. Liquor consumption in other urban areas also has gone up significantly as the government allowed the licensed liquor outlets to open for sale till 11:00 pm every day. By March 31, the last of this financial year, the total revenue will go up to Rs 9,400 crore.

Closure of all belt shops and stringent measures taken up by the Enforcement wing of the Excise department to root out ID (Illicitly Distilled) liquor also called as Gudumba were yielding good results and helped to spike the liquor sales through the licensed outlets considerably.

The increase in liquor prices which comes into effect from December last year contributed the government to rake in moolah. Taken into consideration the increased liquor consumption, revenue target for 2018-19 financial year will be around Rs 11,000 crore.

Following complaints that some liquor dealers resorted to sell NDPL (Non-duty Paid Liquor) smuggled from other States mainly Goa and Maharashtra, the Enforcement Wing tightened vigilance at border areas.