December 2010 peaks in liquor sales in city

Sale of liquor recorded an all-time high in the Capital in December 2010.

Sale of liquor recorded an all-time high in the Capital in December 2010.

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According to senior excise officials, Delhiites consumed more than 13 lakh cases of liquor — scotch, rum, vodka, gin, whiskey and beer combined —in December 2010 against 11 lakh cases in December 2009.

"The sale figure touched Rs 188 crore in December 2010 while it was Rs 165 crore in December 2009," said a senior excise official, wishing to remain anonymous.

According to the excise data, a total of 1,325,456 cases of liquor were sold in the Capital in December last year. One case contains 12 bottles.

Thanks to the prevailing cold conditions, Delhiites took special liking to rum. It topped the list in the liquor segments when it comes to sales figures. Officials said 180,601 cases of rum were sold in the Capital in December 2010 as against 119,521 cases in December 2009.

"With the enforcement of new excise rules, we not only managed to check smuggling of liquor from neighbouring states, we also ensured that Delhiites get best quality liquor. This resulted in increase in our sales figure," Delhi excise minister Ashok Kumar Walia said.