[1]Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala, which has the highest per capita consumption of liquor, can now boast of an exclusive air-conditioned shop for selling high-priced foreign liquor brands.
The self-service 'Premium Liquor Outlet', owned by the state-run Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO), was opened at Ullorr in the city recently.
The state government had announced in its budget the decision to open such outlets in all districts to cater to the needs of those 'tipplers' who find it 'embarrassing' to stand in queue in front of the corporation outlets. However, the outlet spread over an area of 1,000 sq ft would sell only high-priced premium products.
A general view of the store - DC/A.V. Muzafar
A bottle of chilled beer is priced at Rs 100 in the outlet. BEVCO officials, who claimed consumer response to the premium outlets was 'very good', said two similar outlets in Kochi and Kozhikode would be opened soon.
As per the latest economic survey, liquor consumption in Kerala was the highest at more than 1.76 gallons (about eight litres) per person, followed by Maharashtra and Punjab. Revenue contributed to the state exchequer by sale of liquor till February in 2012-13 fiscal stood at Rs 6,336.01 crore.
Revenue towards state from liquor sale last fiscal was Rs 6,525.04 crore out of a gross sales of Rs 7,860.15 crore. BEVCO has 21 warehouses in different parts of the state and runs 338 foreign liquor retail outlets.
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