Liquor sales in TN touches Rs 26,995 cr

Despite the closure of 1,000 liquor shops after AIADMK government came to power for continuous second time in 2016, the sales of liquor touched all time high of nearly Rs 27,000 crore in 2016-17.

Prohibition and Excise minister P Thangamani told the House on Monday that in 2016-17 the government earned Rs 6,248.17 crore through excise revenue and Rs 20,747.08 through VAT sales tax through liquor sales.

The total liquor sale touched Rs 26,995.25 crore in 2016-17, an increase of about 4.5% compared to previous year's figure of Rs 25,845.58 crore. Liquor sales in Tamil Nadu is the second highest money earner after tax collection.

As per the poll promise, the late former chief minister J Jayalalithaa ordered the closure of 500 liquor shops after taking over the power.

Similarly, after Jayalalithaa's death, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who won the trust vote on the floor of the House and assumed office, ordered the closure of 500 more liquor shops.

When Palaniswami took over the post of chief minister, the State had about 6,000 liquor shops.

It was reduced to 5,500 shops when he order the closure. Adding to the woes, Tamil Nadu government was forced to close about 3,500 liquor shops along the State and National Highways after the Supreme Court's order.