Punjab's new high:10 cr more liquor bottles sold. Total 29 crore bottles per year.
Notwithstanding the economic recession, liquor consumption in Punjab has touched an alltime high, with its denizens guzzling roughly 29 crore bottles of Punjab Made Liquor (PML), Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer in 2009-2010.
This is a whopping increase of 10 crore bottles over the consumption of 19 crore bottles in the preceding year, suggesting that the tipplers have given a major leg-up to the revenue earnings of the financially poor state.
In other words, Punjab with a population of 2.5 crore has one of the highest per capita consumption in the country -- roughly 10 bottles (750 ml each) per head in a year. This, mind you, is apart from the liquor consumed from other sources such as scotch and wine brought by foreign travellers,
the CSD canteens for defence personnel, liquor smuggled from neighbouring states and, of course, the illicit brew.
And, the happiest man perhaps is Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal as he has collected a record revenue of Rs 2,150 crore in 2009-2010 -- Rs 200 crore more than the preceding year. As the consumption of liquor shows an upward trend, the draft excise policy for the next year has proposed no hike in rates.
According to a senior Punjab official, the state Excise and Taxation Department hopes to mop up an additional Rs 200 crore over the outgoing year from the sale of PML, IMFL as well as beer. For this, the department plans to increase the licence fee and also the quota of liquor the vendors can sell.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/business-and-lifestyle/29262-punjabs-new-high-10-cr-more.html
The main reason for such an unprecedented spurt in liquor consumption is a major increase of PML, IMFL and beer quota by the state in order to counter the inflow of smuggled liquor from neighbouring states. A raise in liquor quota means decrease in liquor prices, spurring greater
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29262
consumption, added the Punjab official. The new draft excise policy will come up for the Cabinet's approval on February 23. No significant change has been proposed in the allotment of liquor vends through draw of lots. There are 6,000 liquor vends across the state.
As per the Excise Department data, tipplers in Punjab guzzled 1.5 crore cases of country liquor, 50 lakh of IMFL and 40 lakh of beer in 2009-10. A case contains 12 bottles.
http://epaper. hindustantimes. com/ArticleText. aspx?article= 17_02_2010_ 001_011&kword=&mode=1
Forwarded by forum member Tejwant Singh Malik ji
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