Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Chennai, Oct 22 (IANS) Diwali brought happiness not only for revelers but also for Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which reported record liquor sales of Rs 789.85 crore in the three days ahead of the festival.
The increase in demand was attributed to festive bonuses, extended celebrations and long weekends before holidays.
TASMAC, which operates 4,787 retail outlets across the state, typically records average daily sales of more than ₹150 crore. However, on special occasions and weekends, this figure often increases exponentially – and this year’s Diwali crowd proved to be one of the largest ever.
With both government and private sector employees receiving festive bonuses, consumers had extra cash in their hands, prompting many to celebrate lavishly.
Long queues were seen at liquor shops on Saturday ahead of Diwali from noon till closing time at 10 pm, as customers stocked up for the festivities. Due to huge crowd, there was temporary halt in sales at many shops.
According to official data, TASMAC sold liquor worth ₹789.85 crore between Saturday and Monday – a significant increase from ₹650 crore recorded during the same period last year.
This represents an impressive increase of ₹140 crore in festive sales year-on-year.
District-wise, Madurai region led the sales chart with ₹171 crore, followed by Chennai (₹158 crore), Tiruchirappalli (₹157 crore), Salem (₹153 crore), and Coimbatore (₹150 crore).
In comparison, the figures during the first Diwali season were much lower – ₹230.66 crore in 2018, ₹293.73 crore in 2019, and ₹266.06 crore in 2020, indicating a steady and sharp growth trend over the years.
TASMAC, a state-run enterprise that contributes significantly to Tamil Nadu’s revenue, is once again focusing on the social and economic impacts of alcohol consumption on such a large scale. While the state exchequer benefits from the increased sales, public health experts continue to express concern over the growing drinking culture associated with the festival spending patterns.
However, currently, the record-breaking numbers underline how Diwali is lighting up not only homes across Tamil Nadu but also the state’s liquor trade coffers.
–IANS
all/rad