"The liquor sales in 2010-11 was Rs 14,965.42 crore while the provisional figures for 2011-12 were Rs 18,081.16 crore, registering a 20.82 per cent increase," Prohibition and Excise Minister Natham R Viswanathan told the state Assembly.
"By preventing sale of spurious liquor, liquor smuggled from neighbouring states and non-duty paid items and due to TASMAC's retail sale of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor), the government revenue has increased," he said.
Then AIADMK government in 2003 had nationalised sale of liquor. Alcohol is sold in the state through Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC)- run outlets and liquor sales has of late turned out to be a major revenue grosser for the government.
The government has also taken up various awareness campaigns to explain the "evils of drinking", Viswanathan said. PTI SA RC
