In UP, earning from liquor consumers has become a never ending story book, everyday a new story comes out. The UP Government not only wants to be on top in terms of revenue but is also looking for new ways to earn money through state’s liquor consumers. Even though allocation of liquor shops in UP has not been completed, but the excise revenue is increasing day by day.
According to the excise department data, compared to the previous year, the excise revenue increased by 18.21 percent in the first month of the financial year 2019-20. In April last year, the government had received revenue of Rs 2363.60 crore, while in April this year it increased by Rs 430.46 crore to Rs 2794.06 crore.
Excise Department claims that the sale of liquor in U.P is increasing rapidly. In April 2019, in comparison to previous financial year, the consumption of country liquor increased by 20 percent, where as there was increase of 11.8 percent in English liquor.
- Home Guards For Curbing Illegal Liquor Smuggling
- Whooping Rs.98 Crore In Two Months From Cow Cess
- Liquor Syndicate Still Dominant
In UP, 3.26 million bulk liters of country liquor was sold in April 2018, while in April 2019, 3.42 million bulk liters of liquor was sold, which is 13.6 per cent more than government fixed target (MDQ). That is why the UP Government does not appear to be very worried about liquor consumers because when the liquor sales are up without doing anything, then why to worry about the quality of liquor.
According to the excise department data, like country liquor, 1.67 million bottles of English liquor were sold in April this year, which is 11.08 percent more than the 1.51 million bottles sold in April last year. Beer sales in April also went up by 18 percent. Last year, 3.2 million bottles of beer were sold, while in April this year, 3.78 million bottles of beer were sold.
600 Shops Still To Be Allocated
According to the new policy, out of 26,000 liquor, beer and model shop in the state liquor traders have only renewed 66 percent of the shops for the financial year 2019-20. According to the procedure, 33% of the shops and model shop had to be allocated through e-lottery. In the first phase of e-lottery, only 3,515 out of 8660 outlets were allocated. After that, even after having five stages of e-lottery, 1200 outlets have not been allocated so far. In these 12 hundred shops, six hundred shops are of wine and beer.
The highest revenue received from English liquor in April 2019
Country liquor 978.82 crores
English liquor 1028.78 crores
Beer 434.80 crores
Other 351.98 crores