Rs 303 cr in a Day: Telangana’s festive liquor rush breaks records | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Fuelled by Dasara festive demand, liquor sales in Telangana touched a staggering Rs 755 crore in just four days, with a record-breaking Rs 303.40 crore worth of liquor sold on a single day, underscoring the crucial role of excise revenue in shoring up the state’s finances.According to excise department officials, liquor worth Rs 303.40 crore was sold on Oct 19, making it the highest sales day of the festive season. The single-day sales alone accounted for nearly 40% of the four-day total.Sales gained momentum steadily through the festive period, rising from Rs 102 crore on Oct 14 to Rs 126 crore on Oct 16 and Rs 223 crore on Oct 17. Liquor depots remained closed on Oct 15. While sales dipped on Oct 18, a Sunday, they rebounded sharply the following day to set a new festive season record.In volume terms, consumers purchased 10.44 lakh cases of beer and 6.83 lakh cases of hard liquor during the four-day period. Beer continued to dominate consumption patterns, maintaining its lead over hard liquor sales and reflecting the state’s strong preference for the beverage.Overall liquor sales in Telangana reached Rs 2,055 crore up to Oct 19. The state had recorded sales of Rs 3,209 crore in Sept and Rs 3,482 crore in Aug. With festive celebrations continuing through the remainder of the month, excise officials expect sales and revenue collections to remain robust.Telangana has a widespread liquor retail network comprising 2,620 wine shops and around 1,200 bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs. Supplies are routed through 17 liquor depots across the state.Excise revenue remains one of the Telangana govt’s most significant sources of income, second only to a few major revenue-generating departments such as registration and stamps. Collections from liquor sales form an important component of the state’s finances and help fund welfare programmes and other govt schemes.