Chennai: Despite the Covid breakout and the pandemic-induced lockdown, the sale of liquor through the state government-owned Tamilnadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) has crossed the Rs 33,000 mark for the second successive year in 2020-21.
Moving the demand for grants for his department in the State Legislative Assembly, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise V Senthil Balaji said the sales, which stood at Rs 33,133.24 crore in 2019-20, has marginally increased to Rs 33,811.14 crores in 2020-21.
Percentage wise the sales margin might be slightly lower when compared to previous years, as the sale of liquor through 5,402 Retail Vending Shops in 38 districts, was one of the major revenue earners for the state government for funding its various welfare schemes.
Senthil Balaji said the sale for the current fiscal 2021-22 upto 31 July, 2021 stood at Rs 7,907.61 crore.
On an average, the daily sales will be in the range of about Rs 90 crore to Rs 95 crore and it would cross the Rs 100 crore mark during weekends and festival seasons like, New Year, Pongal and Deepavali.
Ever since the TASMAC has been granted the exclusive privilege of Retail Vending of Indian Made Foreign Spirits under Section 17-C(1-B )(a) of the Tamilnadu Prohibition Act, 1937 (Tamil Nadu Act X of 1937), from 29 November, 2003 by the then AIADMK government headed by J Jayalaltihaa, there has been a significant increase in liquor sales in the state with every passing year, amid various political parties demanding implementation of total prohibition in the state, especially at the time of elections.
From Rs 3,639.93 crore in 2003-2004, the sales crossed the Rs 5,000 crore mark in 2005-06 to Rs 6,030.77 crore and went past the Rs 10,000 crore mark in 2008-09 to Rs 10,601.50 crore. In the last ten years, the sales went up from close to Rs 15,000 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 21,680.67 crore in 2012-13, breached the Rs 25,000 crore barrier in 2015-16 at Rs 25,845.58 crore.
In the last five years, the revenue earned through liquor sales stood at Rs 26,995.25 crore, Rs 26,797.96 crore, Rs 31,157.83 crore, Rs 33,133.24 crore and Rs 33,811.14 crore in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 respectively.
Senthil Balaji said with the primary objective of preventing loss of human life by eradicating illicit, sub-standard liquor and curbing sale of non-duty paid liquor, the DMK government will effectively implement the Prohibition and Excise Policy.