In the four days ahead of Christmas, tipplers of Kerala bought alcohol worth ₹332.62 crore. This is an 18.99 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period last year, when sales stood at ₹229.54 crore.
According to officials, Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) recorded liquor sales worth ₹332.62 crore through the BEVCO outlets in the state during the first four days of the festive season. The KSBC considers the period from December 22 to 31 as the Christmas-New Year festive season.
On Friday, KSBC released data on liquor sales during the Christmas-New Year season, which began on December 22.
According to the data, alcohol worth ₹332.62 crore was sold through KSBC liquor shops and warehouses during the four-day period.
There appears to have been a huge rush at the outlets on the day ahead of Christmas as the highest single-day sale was recorded on December 24, when liquor worth ₹114.45 crore was sold.
Alcohol sales on December 22 stood at ₹77.62 crore, followed by ₹81.34 crore on December 23 and ₹59.21 crore on December 25, the data reveals.
During the 12-day Onam season this year, the KSBC had recorded liquor sales of ₹970.74 crore.
Apart from KSBC, Consumerfed also operates a limited number of liquor outlets in the state, and their sales figures will be available later, officials said, reported news agency PTI.