The Hindu Business Line : Tasmac sold Rs 220 cr worth liquor in last week of Dec

Chennai, Jan. 3 Tamil Nadu consumed over eight lakh cases of liquor (3 lakh cases of beer and 5 lakh cases of hard liquor – each case contains 9 litres) during the last week of the year 2007 alone.

In value terms, it works out to over Rs 220 crore, against Rs 140 crore per week during the other three weeks of December. The last day of the year alone accounted for 60,000 cases of beer and 95,000 cases of hard liquor; and Rs 35 crore in value terms. Of this, Chennai alone contributed Rs 4 crore on the last day last year.

“Traditionally, sales during November and December will be low in comparison with other months, as people who go to Sabarimala (a pilgrimage centre) during the season refrain from consuming alcohol. But, the sales will shoot up during the last week of the month, when people celebrate Christmas and New Year.” observed Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Managing Director of Tamilnadu State Marketing Corporation Ltd (Tasmac).

He said, in volume terms Tamil Nadu ranks third in alcohol consumption after Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. But, in value terms Tamil Nadu tops the list as a result of higher taxes.

Usually, 80 per cent of the revenues of Tasmac comes from IMFL and 20 per cent from beer. According to Mr Sharma, the 2006-07 turnover of Tasmac was Rs 8,900 crore (of this, the net revenue for the Government by way of taxes alone is Rs 7,300 crore — excise Rs 3,800 crore and Rs 3,500 crore by way of sales tax). “This year (2007-08), we target a sales turnover of Rs 10,500 crore,” he said.

As per Tasmac statistics, Kingfisher is the largest selling beer in the State followed by Haywards 5000 and Marco Polo Super Strong beer. In the IMFL category, Old Monk rum is the largest selling brand followed by McDowell No.1 whisky and McDowell No.1 brandy.

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