Tipplers in Tamil Nadu have contributed more to the State coffers with the government earning 20 per cent more revenue from liquor sales which has now touched a whopping Rs 18,000 crore.
“By preventing the sale of illicit arrack, spurious liquor, liquor smuggled from neighbouring States and non-duty paid items and due to TASMAC's retail sale of IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor), the government revenue has increased,” the Prohibition and Excise Minister, Mr Natham R Viswanathan, said.
Government had also taken up awareness campaigns to explain the “evils of drinking” among the public, he told the State Assembly.
The liquor sales in 2010-11 was Rs 14,965.42 crore while the provisional figures for 2011-12 were Rs 18,081.16 crore, registering a 20.82 per cent increase.