HIGH SPIRITS: Post LS elections, liquor sales fetch Rs 400 cr in 3 days

Liquor sales in Tamil Nadu brought in over Rs 400 crore for the state exchequer in just three days, in the immediate aftermath of the declaration of Lok Sabha election results.

As per official statistics, liquor sales across all Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) outlets in the state has increased by 20 per cent between Friday and Sunday. The liquor shops were closed across the State on Thursday, which was the day when the results were declared.

A senior Tasmac official told DT Next that they earn around Rs 100 crore in sales every day on an average. According to him, that goes up to Rs 120 crore during the weekends. However, on May 24 (Friday), the liquor sales crossed Rs 130 crore.

“The sales of liquor sales touched Rs 140 crore and Rs 150 crore on Saturday and Sunday respectively,” he said.

“We ensured enough stock was available in all the outlets in anticipation of the demand. In addition, we purchased more liquor brands rom the distilleries,” he said.

Claiming that the sales of ordinary brands also increased by 40 per cent, he said, “on an average, we sell 20 lakh cases of ordinary brand liquor. But in the last four days, the sales have increased to 40 lakh cases,” the official noted.

Stating that the sale of beer has increased by 40 per cent a day, the official added that around 14 lakh cases are being sold a day compared to the regular sale of 10 lakh cases.

The Tasmac official pointed out most customers were grassroot level party functionaries, who wanted to celebrate the success of their party. As on date, Tasmac has 43 IFML depots, 3,800 retail vending shops and 1,450 bars attached to its liquor outlets.