On A High: Liquor Sales Rise To Rs 220 Crore In Tamil Nadu This Pongal

Tamil Nadu appears to have celebrated Bhogi and Pongal with more enthusiasm than last year as Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation or TASMAC registered a liquor revenue of Rs 220 crore on the two festival days.

According to an Eenadu India report, this is Rs 15 crore higher in comparison to the revenue generated last year on these two days.

The report quoted sources to reveal that liquor rates this year were also 10 per cent higher than during Pongal last year. This may account for the higher revenue despite, according to a Times of India report, the overall volume of sale falling by 0.3 per cent. The Supreme Court’s ban on liquor stores situated within 500 m of national and state highways, combined with the state’s decision to close 1,000 shops may explain this drop.

TASMAC is the sole liquor retailer in the state and the biggest source of revenue for the state government. This spike in revenue will therefore be welcomed with open arms by the government.