The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (Tasmac) has seen its volumes fall by over four per cent after the price hike in August this year. Liquor prices were increased by Rs. 10 for a quarter bottle and Rs. 120 for a full bottle.
In September, only 45.2 lakh cases (containing 12 bottles each) of Indian Made Foreign Liquor were sold against 47.3 lakh cases during the same period in 2013. Similarly, beer sales also saw a fall.
Only 20.5 lakh cases were sold in September 2014, whereas during the same month last year the number stood at 21.5 lakh cases.
However, the revenues have gone up by nine per cent with the price hike.
“This year, we netted Rs. 1,940 crore in revenue in September as against Rs. 1,780 crore in the same month in 2013.”
The sales during October would also see the same trend owing to frequent closure of shops fearing protests.
A fall of at least six per cent is what officials estimate. “We will know the details only by the end of month,” the official said.
Liquor sales in Tamil Nadu account for over a fourth of the State’s tax revenues. Within a decade, Tasmac’s revenue went up from a mere Rs. 3,639 crore in 2003 to Rs. 21,674 crore.
“This year, from April to September, we have already made revenues of Rs. 11,600 crore. So we should be able to cross the Rs. 23,000-crore mark,” the official said.
