The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Liquor sales cross Rs. 400 crore

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Friday, May 14, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Liquor sales cross Rs. 400 crore

S. Harpal Singh

ADILABAD: The rapid rate at which the consumption of liquor is rising in Adilabad should raise the eyebrows of those concerned. Adilabadis consumed alcohol worth Rs. 400 crore in 2009-2010, which includes Rs. 300 crore of liquor sold by the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Ltd. (APBCL) and an estimated Rs. 100 crore worth of non-duty paid and illicitly distilled liquor.

The total value of spirits drunk here is more than the advances made by all the banks in the district as crop loans during the period.

This amounts to each of the 5 lakh families consuming Rs. 80,000 worth of liquor during the year.

According to observers, a rise in the purchasing power of people in Adilabad is one of the major reasons for their increased inclination towards the spirits. Villagers now have more access to money than they had a decade ago, thanks to brisk developmental activity and inclusion of even the poorest under banking activity.

“While the government does not fail to pat itself on its success in raising the purchasing power of people, it is silent on this aspect It should be construed that the government has failed to tell people what to purchase or rather what not to,” observes a pro-prohibitionist.

Manifold increase

In its twelve years of existence here, the APBCL has increased its sales by over 10 times to end up selling liquor worth Rs. 1,700 crore so far. The cause for concern is the fact that sale of alcohol registered a rise by over Rs. 50 crore during the last two years to cross the Rs. 300 crore mark.

‘Target' approach

Going by the ‘target' approach of the government in sale of liquor, it can be said that the increase in consumption will be sharper this year. Less enforcement and further enhanced access to money are being seen as the prime causes for this factor.

The government should ponder over the merits or demerits for making liquor accessible to villagers.

In a scenario where liquor business has come to flourish, the allegation that liquor flows like water while water sources run dry seems to stand true.

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Andhra Pradesh