Delhi sells 3.9 crore liquor bottles ahead of Diwali, collects Rs 448 crore

NEW DELHI: Liquor sales ahead of Diwali reached a whopping 3.9 crore bottles, representing an increase of nearly 70 per cent over last year, and generating a revenue of Rs 448 crore, the Indian Express reported.

According to official data, liquor sales in the 15 days leading up to the festival saw a sharp increase compared to previous years. In 2022, 1.9 crore bottles worth Rs 324 crore were sold, while in 2023, the number rose to 2.3 crore bottles with a revenue of Rs 433 crore.

This year, 3.9 crore bottles were sold between October 15 and 30. The highest sales were recorded on October 29, a day before Diwali, when 35 lakh bottles were sold. Of the total liquor bottles sold, 89.48 lakh were beer bottles, and the count of Indian-made foreign liquor bottles was 2.98 crore.

“This year, overall sales were good compared to last year. Delhi has registered more brands as well,” said an official.

Delhi collected a revenue of Rs 3,047 crore from April to October, compared to Rs 2,849 crore for the same period last year. Total revenue, including VAT, for the period is Rs 4,495 crore, against Rs 4,188 crore for the same period last year, the official said. (The Indian Express)