Diwali celebrations in Delhi have led to a huge increase in liquor sales. In the two weeks before Diwali, 3.9 crore liquor bottles were sold, bringing in INR 448 crore in revenue. These sales happened through 680 government-run shops.
Liquor sales figures exclude 900 hotels, clubs, and restaurants
According to Economic Times, this year’s liquor sales have significantly increased compared to the past two years. In 2022, 1.9 crore bottles were sold for INR 324 crore, and in 2023, sales went up to 2.7 crore bottles worth INR 433 crore.
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These figures don’t include liquor sold at over 900 hotels, clubs, and restaurants, which means the total market impact is even bigger. Experts say that liquor sales usually slow down for about three weeks before Dussehra because many people avoid alcohol for religious reasons, ET reported.
Delhi Sells 35 Lakh Liquor Bottles on October 29
However, demand picks up a lot after Dussehra and reaches its peak just before Diwali. On October 29, sales hit around 35 lakh bottles, the highest of the season. It dropped slightly to about 34 lakh on October 30, the day before Diwali.
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Further, the sales include different types of alcohol like whisky, rum, vodka, gin, beer, and wine. Officials say that people buy liquor not just for themselves, but also for gifts or to stock up for the festive season. This increase in sales has helped the excise department, which had problems with liquor shortages due to issues with the Excise Supply Chain Management System (ESCIMS) portal. A new portal launched in October by the National Informatics Centre has made it easier for shops, hotels, and bars to restock.
Meanwhile, due to the spike in liquor sales during the festive season, the government’s revenue from excise duty and value-added tax has increased compared to last year.
Notably, from April 1 to October 31 this fiscal year, the government collected INR 3,047 crore from liquor excise duties, nearly 7% more than the INR 2,849 crore collected in the same period last year. The Delhi government expects to earn INR 6,400 crore in excise revenue for the 2024-25 budget.
