THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala witnessed an unprecedented surge in alcohol sales during the New Year celebrations, with residents spending a staggering Rs 105.78 crore on December 31 alone. This marks an all-time high in the history of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco), surpassing last year’s New Year sales of Rs 97.13 crore by approximately eight crore rupees.
The sales figures highlight a significant increase in liquor consumption across the state during the festive period. Of the total sales on New Year’s Eve, Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) accounted for the lion’s share, bringing in Rs 92.89 crore. Beer sales also saw a substantial volume at Rs 9.88 crore, while foreign-made liquor contributed Rs 1.58 crore to the revenue. Additionally, wine sales reached Rs 1.40 crore, with foreign-made wine specifically generating Rs 5.95 lakh.
Among the various Bevco outlets, the Kadavanthra branch emerged as the top performer, recording the highest sales in the state for the New Year period. On December 31, the Kadavanthra outlet alone registered sales worth Rs 1,00,16,610. The Kochi Ravipuram outlet followed closely in second place with sales amounting to Rs 95,08,670. The third position was secured by the Malappuram Edappal Kuttipala outlet, which reported sales of Rs 82,86,090.
This impressive performance extends beyond New Year’s Eve. The Christmas week, spanning from December 22 to 25, also saw robust sales, totaling Rs 332.62 crore. This represents a substantial 19 percent increase compared to the previous year’s Christmas week figures. A particularly notable spike in sales occurred on the evening of December 24, when alcohol worth Rs 114.45 crore was sold, indicating a strong festive spirit among consumers.