Kerala sees record liquor sales as alcohol vends, bars reopen amid lockdown relaxation

Liquor worth Rs 52 crore was sold in various outlets of the state-owned Beverages Corporation (Bevco), a marked surge from the average of Rs 49 crore netted on normal days.

Kerala witnessed record sales of liquor on Thursday after the state government allowed the reopening of alcohol vends and bars as part of easing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Liquor worth Rs 52 crore was sold in various outlets of the state-owned Beverages Corporation (Bevco), a marked surge from the average of Rs 49 crore netted on normal days. Bevco has a total of 265 shops across the state, of which 40 have not opened in areas with a test positivity rate (TPR) of more than 20 per cent. The Beverages Corporation's outlet in Thenkurissi in Palakkad district had the highest liquor sales in the state at Rs 69 lakh. Bevco officials said the increase in sales was due to the fact that it shares a border with Tamil Nadu. The shop on Powerhouse Road in Thiruvananthapuram district came in second with Rs 66 lakh in sales. Third place went to Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district at Rs 65 lakh.