On Diwali this year, the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) – which has the monopoly on liquor retail in the state – made at least Rs. 230 crore, and yet officials are unhappy because sales have dropped compared to last year, report The Times of India and The New Indian Express.
According to TOI, the liquor sales have dipped by Rs. 20 crore when compared to the last year, and reasons include closure of more than 1000 outlets and alleged smuggling of alcohol from nearby states. ToI reported that the liquor sales were about Rs. 245 crore on October 17 and 18 this year. Last year, TASMAC shops had a revenue of Rs. 265 crore after the sales of liquor for two days in Diwali season.
However, The New Indian Express reported that the sales of liquor for two days was Rs. 230 crore and the sales of liquor last year was Rs. 243 crore. On a regular weekday, sales of liquor amounts to Rs. 70 to 80 crore and Rs. 100 crore on weekends.
A source from TASMAC told ToI that the sales of liquor were down by 6.3% compared to last year, but if one adds the revenue earned through the recent revision of liquor prices, the actual dip in sale would be around 14%.
A source told TNIE that they planned for a sale of Rs. 300 crore this year but they could only manage sales of Rs. 230 crore. The official said that the reason could be hike in prices of liquor and also because the day preceding Diwali was Purattasi’s last day, people not be able to come to liquor shops. TASMAC sources also pointed out that the closure of 1,270 shops due to the Supreme Court order of stopping sale of liquor within 500 metres of highways from April, also as one of the reasons for losses.