A new report on Alcohol Consumption in Karnataka pointed out a shift in consumption patterns
As per report while sales of hard liquor, including whisky and rum, have declined, the report indicates a growing preference for beer among consumers in the state. At the same time, the sale of indian Made Liquor (IML) registered a marginal year-on-year decline of just over 0.6% between april and November, while beer sales in karnataka increased by 10.9%. According to data received from the karnataka State Excise Department, 466 lakh carton boxes of indian Made Liquor were sold during the eight months, while last year this number was 469 lakh.Meanwhile on the other hand, beer sales have increased. According to latest figures, 313.5 lakh carton boxes of beer were sold over the past eight months, compared to 282.6 lakh crates during the same period last year. Beer sales typically decline annually during october and November, while IML sales see an increase. Conversely, beer sales are generally strong during the summer months of april, May, July, August, and September.Moreover sales of Indian-Made Liquor (IML) are experiencing a decline this year, contrasting with the trend observed last year. The Wine Merchants Association has identified rising prices as the primary cause. Karunakar Hegde, President of the Bangalore Cluster, Federation of Wine Merchants Association, explained, “Sales decreased due to a total increase of 10% three times in the last two years. However, for two months, the government reduced the prices of high-quality whisky, brandy, and rum by 20%, which has boosted sales." A government official said that the improvement in liquor prices reduced the revenue deficit by Rs 200 crore. The revenue target for 2024-25 from liquor sales is Rs 38,525 crore.