Thiruvananthapuram: Sales of liquor and beer in Kerala for the fiscal year 2023-24 have surged to Rs 19,088.68 crore, marking an increase from Rs 18,510.98 crore recorded in FY 2022-23.
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation, functioning as the exclusive wholesaler of liquor and beer in the state, facilitates these transactions.
Contributing significantly to the state’s revenue, taxes and levies from liquor amounted to an impressive Rs 16,609.63 crore for the fiscal year, up from Rs 16,189.55 crore in the preceding fiscal period.
Approximately 80% of the liquor distributed in Kerala originates from other states, while the remaining 20% is locally manufactured.
Retail sales of liquor are conducted through 277 outlets owned by the Corporation, supplemented by an additional 39 outlets operated by the state-supported cooperative organization Consumerfed.
An analysis of liquor consumption patterns in Kerala indicates that 32.9 lakh individuals out of the state’s population of 3.34 crore partake in alcohol consumption, comprising 29.8 lakh men and 3.1 lakh women.
Of note, approximately five lakh individuals indulge in liquor consumption on a daily basis, with 83,851 individuals (including 1,043 women) identified as alcohol-dependent.
