Tourist footfall, cold weather push up liquor sale this season

There was a spike in sale of Indian Made Liquor (IML) during the last week of 2017, when compared to the previous year. As many as 75,093 cases of IML were sold in the outlets across the district between December 26 and December 31.

While 21,957 cases were lifted on December 30 alone, as many as 3,700 boxes were sold on December 31, the last day of 2017. Speaking to DH, Deputy Commissioner for Excise M Roopa said December 30 being a Saturday, more number of boxes were lifted. As many as 16,753 boxes were lifted on December 31, she said.

The owner of a bar at Vijayanagar said the sale of liquor was a little high compared to the previous year. "We have made nearly 50% more business during the last week of 2017. The liquor sales picked up compared to last year due to high footfall of tourists and the chill. It is hoped the sale will remain high for a few more days. The sale of liquor was more compared to beer, he said.

Another MRP liquor outlet too made good business between Christmas and New Year. The vendor said, "We have supplied 25 cases of beer to a hotel where the New Year party was organised on December 31."

Even though the sale was high during the last week of the year, business had been affected since July 1, 2017, following the Supreme Court order, banning sale of liquor within 500 metres from national highways in urban areas and 220 metres from national highways in rural areas.

No drunken driving cases

Though cocktail parties were organised at a number of places as part of New Year celebrations, the city police have not registered a single drunken driving case. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) K N Madaiah told DH that the police conducted drives at various points in the city to check drunken driving. As the drivers had consumed liquor within the prescribed limit, the police let them off after warning them not to consume more liquor. The ACP confirmed that no untoward incidents were reported in the city.