India: Kerala expects highest ever beer sales this fiscal

Indian state of Kerala is expecting the highest ever sale of alcohol and beer at an estimated Rs 5,500 crore, Shanker Reddy, Managing Director, Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC), was quoted as saying by Hospitality Biz India on March, 30.

According to Mr. Reddy, in the last fiscal (2008-09) Rs 4,631 crore worth of alcohol and beer was sold. A record 85 lakh cases of beer will be sold by the end of this fiscal, up from 70 lakh cases of beer in 2008-09.

Every year, liquor and beer sales have been rising and the total sales of alcohol and beer during 2007-08 was Rs 3,669 crore, which means in two years the total sales went up by a staggering Rs.1,831 crore. Last fiscal, the total revenue by way of taxes that came in through the sale of alcohol and beer was Rs 3,621 crore and by March 31 this fiscal, it would touch Rs 4,150 crore.

Lakh = 100,000
Crore = 10,000,000

31 March, 2010