Delhi says hic hic hurray

Liquor sales touch new high in the national capital

The mercury is rising, prices of public transport have gone through the roof, people are being killed in the name of family honour but it seems that it will take a lot more to dilute the undying spirit of Delhi.


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Figures provided by the state excise department serve a proof to corroborate the statement. Liquor sales in the national capital have recorded a stupendous growth of 35 per cent in the first quarter of this year. The sales recorded April-June 2010 are at a whopping Rs 424 crore as compared to Rs 308 crore for the corresponding period last year.

Though price rise is considered an obvious reason for the enhanced revenue but the per month sales figures indicate a direct relationship between the heat and liquor consumption.
"Sales have shot up in the last two months while it was more or less the same in the months of February and March," said an excise department official, requesting anonymity.

Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC), which began the year with a monthly sales figure of Rs 54.98 crore, has recorded a sale of Rs 60.38 crore in the month of May. But the sales dipped heavily in March to Rs 46.24 crore. "It's a fact that people consume more liquor as the temperature goes up during the summers. This year as there was no rain and the mercury broke several records, the consumption of beer and whiskey has gone up drastically," said a DSIDC official.

Though the data related to the kind of liquor, which was consumed the most, is yet to be jotted down officials said sale of whiskey and beer touched an all time high in the capital. "Whiskey is preferred across all sections of the society. The consumption is higher in the lower income group while beer on the other hand is more of an elite product. More than any other alcoholic product, beer sales rise in proportion to the sweltering Delhi heat," the official added.

Prices of the liquor too have gone up last year, adding to the revenues. "Of course the prices have a direct bearing on the increased revenue. But the demand too has gone up mostly in category of whiskey and beer," the official said.

DSIDC have 104 shops in the capital and contributes to 20 per cent of the revenue earned by the excise department.

Delhi Consumer Cooperative Wholesale Stores Limited (DCCWSL), which has a total 84 shops in the capital, recorded sales of Rs 16.20 crore in the month of April while in the month of May the sales dipped to Rs 14.50 crore. "But last year in the month of April we earned only Rs 11.20 crore. May was again a more profitable month with sales of Rs 12.80 crore but this year in the month of May our sales were at Rs 14.50 crore," said a DCCWSL official.

Rs 424 cr Delhi excise department revenues for the first quarter of 2010
Rs 309 cr Revenues for the same period during 2009