Anti-liquor activists may see red studying the statistics, but it is true. Consumption of liquor and beer has gone up by 600 per cent to 800 per cent during past 12 years.
As per the statistics supplied to Odisha Assembly, State Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari informed that lifting of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the State has gone up by 600 per cent from 62.66 lakh LPL (London Proof Litre) to 404.21 lakh LPL between 2001-02 and 2012-13.
Year wise percentage of growth in IMFL lifting has ranged from one per cent to 49 per cent, says Mr. Pujari. Similarly, consumption of beer was estimated at 86.90 lakh beer barrels in 2001-02. By the 2012-13, the consumption has shot up by over 800 per cent to 756.13 lakh BL.
It has been witnessed growth in consumption of liquor, beer and country spirit by manifolds. In case of country spirit, 14.65 lakh LPL country spirit was consumed in the State in 2001-02.
In last 12 years, the consumption has seen a sharp rise to 93.26 lakh LPL. In 2002-03, the consumption of CS went up by 200 per cent in a single year. Number shops in the State has also seen spectacular rise from 778 to 1676 in 12 years. Odisha’s coffer has swelled due to rise in liquor consumption. Total excise revenue collected in the State during the year 2001-02 stood at 196.17 crore. By 2012-13, the annual excise revenue touched a figure of nearly Rs. 1500 crore registering growth of 800 per cent.
