Liquor consumption in Kerala alarming: Minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 21 (UNI) Kerala Excise Minister P K Gurudasan today said in the Assembly that liquor consumption in the state was increasing considerably.

In a written reply, he disclosed the average sale of IMFL through the Kerala Bevarages Corporation outlets, the sole dealer of IMFL in the state, per day was Rs 5.86 crore. However, the sale of IMFL on Christmas and New Year eve was Rs 12.14 crore and Rs 14.55 crore respectively.

According to the latest figures available, 119.75 cases of IMFL and 42.73 cases of beer were sold during the period between April 2006 and February 2007 and Rs 2,826.78 crore were collected on this account, he added.

Mr Gurudasan said the government was taking all steps to strengthen campaign against liquor consumption. The Abkari contractors had paid Rs 367.31 crore as tax to the government, he added.

UNI