Liquor worth Rs 36 crore sold in Paschim Medinipur between Christmas and New Year

Paschim Medinipur, January 3: The harsh cold and the joy of festivals have set a new record for liquor sales in Paschim Medinipur district. In just eight days from Christmas (December 25) to the first day of the New Year (January 1), liquor sales worth nearly Rs 36 crore were recorded in the district.

During this period, consumption of local and foreign liquor as well as beer also reached unprecedented levels. It is noteworthy that for the first time after the year 2021, the minimum temperature in the district was recorded around eight degrees Celsius. The temperature was 8.45 degrees Celsius on December 31 and 9.4 degrees Celsius on January 1. The hustle and bustle of festivals along with the onset of cold further increased the demand for liquor.

According to the District Excise Department, two lakh 56 thousand 155 liters of country liquor and two lakh 41 thousand 420 liters of foreign liquor were sold in these eight days. Surprisingly, despite the cold, the consumption of beer did not decrease. During this period, a turnover of Rs 1 crore 16 lakh was generated from the sale of 42 thousand liters of beer.

On the first day of the new year, sales of foreign liquor worth Rs 4 crore 72 lakh were recorded in the district. At the same time, 31 thousand liters of country liquor was sold on January 1 and 33 thousand liters of country liquor was sold on December 25. Earlier, during Durga Puja, 32 thousand 518 liters of foreign liquor was sold in four days.

According to Excise Department officials, the demand for country liquor naturally increases during the winter season. Along with this, the continuous campaigns against illegal and adulterated liquor have also had a positive impact, due to which the sale of legal liquor has increased and the government’s revenue has increased significantly.

District Excise Superintendent Surjit Sarkar said that the sale of liquor increases every year during festivals, especially from October (Durga Puja) to March (Holi). He said that due to strict action against illegal liquor and continuous monitoring, legal sales are increasing.