Kerala Gulps Down Rs 108 Crore-Worth Liquor On New Year
South Indian state Kerala welcomed the New Year in a spirited fashion—quite literally! As it is famous for the liquor sales during special days of the calendar, on December 31, the state uncorked a new record, chugging down the booze worth a staggering Rs 108 crore. This feat outpaced last year’s New Year’s Eve sales of Rs 94.77 crore, proving that Keralites’ penchant for festive cheer remains unshaken.
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) or the Beverages as it is famously known in the state, the state’s monopoly liquor retailer, reported that Rs 69.42 crore of the sales flowed through its outlets. Among these, the Ravipuram outlet in Ernakulam topped the charts, raking in Rs 92.31 lakh. Close on its heels were Nedumangad (Rs 86.65 lakh), Kavanad-Ashramam (Rs 79.20 lakh), Edappally-Kadavanthra (Rs 79 lakh), and Chalakudy (Rs 75.11 lakh).
Notably, this boozy binge comes hot on the heels of record-breaking Christmas sales, where BEVCO outlets poured out liquor worth Rs 152.06 crore during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. That marked a 24.5% increase compared to Rs 122.14 crore from the same period last year.
Interestingly, BEVCO confirmed that liquor prices haven’t been hiked over the past year. This suggests that the increased turnover reflects a matching rise in consumption—a spirited revelation indeed!
From Ravipuram to Chalakudy, it seems Keralites celebrated with gusto, blending tradition with a dash of indulgence. While the rest of the country counted down to midnight, Kerala raised its glasses—and quite a few eyebrows.
