Beer sales froth over this summer
Amid the hot summer spell, Delhiites have apparently resorted to guzzling beer generously as its sales went up substantially. Beer consumption in the city has crossed to over 5,83,27,644 bottles between April 1 and July 13 this year. This has resulted in an increase of 9 per cent to 10 per cent in the current financial year. last year, total 53,692,608 bottles were sold during the same period. The data complied by the Excise Department and available with The Pioneer shows that Delhiites prefer strong beer compared to lager. The sale of draught beer also registered an increase of 25 per cent this year.
“For the last three years, we are witnessing a 25 per cent rise in the sales of beer. last year we sold around 170 litres of beer, which is 500 pints per day but this year, we sold around 240 litres of beer, which is 720 pints per day,” said Akshay Anand, owner, Warehouse Café, Connaught Place. “There is a substantial rise in demand because of the hot weather. We’re falling short in terms of our capacity to keep the bottles chilled. Buyers are even grabbing bottles not kept in the freezer,” said a liquor shop salesman in Kashmere Gate.
Strangely, the sale of beer is increasing despite a twofold hike in prices in Delhi. Sale of beer had declined in 2012-13 due to increase in prices. Data shows that sales of draught beer also registered a growth of 25 per cent this year compared to the previous year. As far as draught beer (draught beer denotes beer brewed and stored in the traditional way, maturing naturally in the cask and served unpasteurised from the cask rather than from a bottle or can) is concerned, a total 3,132 kegs were sold this year compared to 2,108 during the same period last year.
The Excise Department has netted Rs 790 crore till July 14 this year compared to Rs 782 crore in the previous year during the same period. There are about 550 liquor stores and more than 400 hotels and restaurants in the city where liquor flows freely. Besides beer, the sale of whiskey, rum, vodka and other spirits too have registered a jump. As per data, a total 27,18,668 cases of whiskey were sold this year compared to 25,48,404 cases last year. This means a total of 1,68,264 cases were sold more this year. Similarly, a total of 1,60,850 cases of wine were sold this year compared to 10,9,297 cases last year. This year, 51,553 cases more were sold. Not only Indian Made Foreign liquor (IMFl) but sale of foreign liquor too has shown a spirited increase.