- Mathura district sees significant rise in liquor consumption-based revenue, surpasses all other districts in UP
2023.03.14 (Vrindavan Today News): The consumption-based revenue growth of liquor in Mathura district has seen a significant rise in the current year, especially in the month of February. This rise in revenue can be attributed to the strict measures taken by the Police Administration and the Excise Department to prevent the illegal sale of liquor from other provinces.
Mathura district, which is among the top-10 districts in Uttar Pradesh, has surpassed all other districts in terms of consumption-based revenue growth of liquor in February 2023, as compared to the previous year. The consumption revenue of liquor has increased from 34.64 in the previous year to 53.39 percent in February. Moradabad remained at the bottom in the state with 38.08% revenue from liquor consumption in February last year, which has only risen to 39.39% this February
Around five hundred contracts, bars, and model shops are selling liquor, beer, and country liquor across the district, with the Excise Department reporting a revenue of Rs 577.94 crore till the month of February in the current year.
The prevalence of alcohol and beer has also increased among the youth in the district. In the past, there used to be only a few liquor and beer contracts, but now there are hundreds of them. Despite other districts having more country and foreign liquor contracts, bars, and model shops, Mathura district has consistently ranked in the top-10 in terms of consumption-based revenue growth of liquor in the current year.
However, it is essential to note that drinking or consuming alcohol was not prevalent in Mathura district in the past. People used to consume milk, curd, and ghee, and there was no culture of alcohol consumption. The shortage of milk and the increasing number of people consuming alcohol gradually changed this culture.
It may also be interesting to note that in the latest Excise Policy 2023-24, the license fee for liquor and beer shops has been raised by ten percent, with the government targeting a revenue collection of approximately Rs. 45,000 crore in the next fiscal year.
The new policy was approved by the cabinet on Saturday, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The target is an increase of Rs. 5,000 crore compared to last year. The policy provisions may cause the prices of country, English, and premium brand liquor to increase by five to ten rupees. It is noteworthy that such developments are taking place in Mathura, a holy city.
