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Following the rise in prices of foreign liquor, Maharashtra has seen a sharp decline in sales, hitting the state’s excise revenue. State excise department data shows that till September, only 15.1 crore liters were sold, significantly lower than 32.19 crore liters in the same period last year.
30 crore liters were sold in the entire financial year 2024-25, 27.72 crore liters in 2023-24 and 22.52 crore liters in 2022-23. Interestingly, sales of foreign liquor had increased during the pandemic years.
Sales in 2018-19 and 2019-20 were 20.77 crore liters and 21 crore liters respectively. In a non-pandemic year like 2017-18, sales stood at 17.93 crore litres.
The increase in liquor prices has also affected the sale of country liquor. According to the Indian Express report, only 21.09 crore liters were sold between January and September this year, which is much less than 40.35 crore liters in the same period last year.
This sharp decline in sales has hit revenues, with excise income falling to Rs 12,332 crore by September, compared to Rs 25,467 crore last year.
Senior excise officials in the state acknowledged that there has been a decline in sales of foreign liquor, but said price rise is not the only reason. He stressed that the rising cost of living has forced people to cut down on spending, with alcohol being one of the affected items.
“Liquor, especially foreign liquor, is the last priority for most people. The price hike was aimed at boosting revenues and aligning prices with other states, but it has not been received well in Maharashtra. December 31 is a major event that could increase revenues and paint a rosy picture,” the Indian Express quoted him as saying, requesting anonymity.