Symbolic picture.
There is no dearth of people drinking alcohol in the country’s capital Delhi. Especially during the festive season, further increase in its consumption is seen. Due to which the people of the government become isolated. Recently, a data has been released by the Delhi government, in which it has been told that during the festive season of Diwali, the people of Delhi drank so much alcohol that they earned billions of rupees just from taxes. According to government data, the government has seen an increase of 15 percent in its earnings during the last year. Let us also tell you what kind of figures have been released by the government department regarding tax revenue.
15 percent increase in earnings
Delhi government has received excise revenue of about Rs 600 crore from retail sale of liquor during Diwali, which is about 15 percent more than last year. A senior Delhi government official said that during the 15 days before Diwali, sales worth Rs 594 crore were recorded from government liquor selling shops. In the same period in the year 2024, this sale was Rs 516 crore. The official said that this year an increase of 15 percent has been recorded in the total sale amount of liquor in the fortnight before Diwali.
Will the revenue target be met?
According to official data, the total revenue from excise duty and value added tax (VAT) in the first half of the financial year 2025-26 stood at Rs 4,192.86 crore, while it was Rs 3,731.79 crore in the same period of the last financial year. Due to increased sales during Diwali, the Excise Department is hopeful that the revenue target of Rs 6,000 crore can be crossed in the current financial year. It is also likely to get support from the demand on the occasion of New Year. In Budget 2025-26, the target of excise duty was set at Rs 7,000 crore, which was later revised to Rs 6,000 crore.
Earnings may increase further
Officials said that further increase in liquor sales may be seen in the last two months of the year. Many weddings are going to take place in November and December. Due to which, sales are expected to increase further in the coming months. He said that this time, the department is also motivating people to get temporary licenses to buy liquor in bulk to serve at functions.
Company shares rise
However, in the last one month there has been an increase in the shares of liquor manufacturing companies. A rise of about 10 percent is seen in the shares of Radico Khaitan, one of the biggest liquor companies of the country. Shares of Tilaknagar Industries have seen an increase of about 4 percent in a month. The shares of GM Beverages have seen the highest rise and have seen an increase of more than 71 percent in a month. The shares of Allied Blenders have seen an increase of 17 percent.