Onam: Kerala to see Rs 2 bn liquor sales

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8: Onam is here... Kerala is decked up with flowers and liquor shops in Kerala are stacked up with liquor. A whooping amount of Rs 2 billion alcohol sales is likely to happen this year during 10-day festival of Onam that began on Tuesday, Sep 2. The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), the sole wholesalers of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer in the state, said there has already been an increase in liquor sales since Sunday, Aug 31.

“Last season in 2007, the 10-day Onam sales were Rs.144.48 crore (over Rs.1.4 billion), with the biggest sale coming on the day before Thiru Onam of Rs.17.93 crore. This season, the first day sale in the 10-day Onam season that began Sunday has seen a 25 percent increase as compared to the first day sale last year," a KSBC official told on condition of anonymity.

For the KSBC, the 10-day period comprises five days prior to Onam, three days during the Onam and two days after Onam. This year Thiru Onam falls Friday, Sep 12.

The KSBC in the last fiscal saw a record high sale of both IMFL and beer, touching Rs.36.67 billion, up from Rs.31.43 billion during 2006-07.

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