Maharashtra receives a huge revenue on the sale of alcohol, Rs 21,550 crore excise duty in a year

Encouraging the sale of alcohol with an eye on the tax, but ignoring the problem of addiction

Mumbai, 23rd March (news) – Maharashtra has received a record revenue through the sale of alcohol. In 2023–2024 Maharashtra earned a revenue of Rs 21,550 crore from just the sale of alcohol. Seeing the increase in the demand for alcohol the State Government has budgeted that in the year 2024-2025 the revenue anticipated is Rs 25,200 crore. With an eye on the great amount of revenue earned through the sale of alcohol the government is promoting its sale. On the other hand, it is ignoring and neglecting its programme of fighting addiction. The revenue department of government is planning to open an independent training centre at Patan in Satara District to promote licensed sale of alcohol. Training shall be given for the stopping the sale of illegal liquor and promoting the sale of licensed alcohol. For this, 51 new posts have been approved by the Government. Rs 348 crore have been allocated for the training centre.

Crores of rupees for increase in the sale of alcohol, and nothing for de-addiction programme

The Government is spending crores of rupees to empower the department with an eye on the revenue earned from the sale of alcohol. While in the year 2023-2024 only Rs 20 lakh were approved for de-addiction programme. The de-addiction centres are run on grants from the State’s Social Justice Department, but the grant funds do not reach the centres on time. The centres are running just as a formality.

Maharashtra : Huge revenue raked in from the sale of Alcohol, a whopping 21,550 Crores generated in the year 2023-24 !

‼️ Promotion of sale of Alcohol for the sake of revenue, but neglect towards enforcing prohibition

👉 The public expects the government to pay attention to… pic.twitter.com/ounaZH3ALh

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) March 23, 2024

In the past 2 years there has been a 10% increase in sale of beer

There has been 10% increase in the sale of beer in the past 2 years. In 2021-22 sale of beer was 2,328 lakh litres in Maharashtra. In the current year, it has increased to 3,214 lakh litres. Indian made foreign brands has increased by 4% while country liquor has 3% increase. In 2023–24 till 15th March the sale of beer had crossed 3,214 lakh litres. Indian made foreign brands had sold 2,734 lakh litres, while country liquor has reached a figure of 3,498 lakh litres.

Editorial Perspective

The citizens of the State expect that the Government should give priority to the health of its people and not promote the sale of alcohol with an eye on the tax income it gets from its sale.