M'shtra says cheers as liquor duty fills coffers

It may give social activists and NGOs many a sleepless nights but the state government has reasons to cheer. Revenue from the sale of liquor has added more than four times to the state coffers over the last 14 years.

As per the Excise Hand book 2005, while in 1991-92 the state government's revenue through excise duty from the sale of liquor was Rs 542 crore, it has touched Rs 2,324 crore in 2004-05.

Interestingly, Pune, which used to be called the Mecca of Maharashtrain conservatism, has earned the distinction of the highest contributor to the state's coffer by the sale of liquor. The Pune region collected Rs 666 crore excise duty from liquor sale. Mumbai saw the highest sale of beer.

The total beer consumed was 6.86 crore bulk litre in financial year of 2004-05. Pune region is second with 1.97 crore bulk litre.

The total consumption of wine in Mumbai was 18.20 lakh litre in last financial year. For Pune the figure was 1.09 lakh litre. However, Nashik, the vineyard of Maharashtra, sold only 18,000 litre of wine.

While western part of the state seems to be high on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL), the eastern part has topped in the consumption of country liquor with 5.25 crore bulk litre sales. The Mumbai region followed with consumption of 3.28 crore bulk litre sales.

The state government has also introduced permit system. According to this, one can buy a permit for Rs 2 to drink liquor. This will be sold through bars and liquor shops. This will help people avoid harassment from cops.

Besides, schemes such as one-year permit for Rs 100 and life-time permit for Rs 1,000 have also been introduced by the excise department.

ON A HIGH

In 1991-92, the state government's revenue through sale of liquor was Rs 542 crore

By 2004-05, it has risen to Rs 2,324 crore

Pune turns out to be the highest contributor to the state coffers, collecting Rs 666 crore as state excise duty through sale of liquor

Mumbai saw the highest sale of beer