Fondness among the people for liquor seems to have gone up in Nainital. Interestingly, people consumed about 40 per cent more liquor in December 2014 as compared to the corresponding period, December 2013, in the district. Maximum consumption of liquor was registered in the Indian- Made Foreign liquor (IMFl) followed by Beer and country- made liquor in December 2014, the officials concerned of the Nainital Excise Department informed. While 36 per cent rise was registered in IMFl consumption in of December 2014 as compared to December 2013, 40 per cent more Beer was consumed in Nainital district in December 2014 as compared to December 2013, said Rajeev Chauhan, Assistant Excise Commissioner, Nainital.
However, just 04 per cent increase was registered in the consumption of country- made liquor in Nainital district during the same period, he added. Though sharp rise in consumption in the sale of liquor during the fag end of December is understandable in view of New Year celebrations a 36 percent increase in consumption of IMFl reflects growing fondness among the people here for good quality liquor.
However, 18 litre IMFl, 113 litre country- made liquor and 157 litre illicit liquor were also recovered during raids conducted by the district Excise Department, Nainital in December 2014. Moreover, 27 people were also arrested on charge of liquor smuggling during the raids conducted in different parts of the district in December 2014, the officials said. With about two months left for the current fiscal to end, growing fondness for liquor among the citizens is swelling the Government exchequer in terms of revenue with recovery of Rs 158 crore from the excise sector till December 2014 against a target of Rs 124 crore as fixed for the current financial year, the officials concerned said.