The Delhi government’s excise revenue from the liquor trade rose by approximately 13% during the first three quarters of the 2024-25 fiscal year, officials said.
The revenue increased to Rs 6,061 crore, compared to Rs 5,361 crore during the same period in the previous fiscal year, they noted.
However, liquor sales on New Year’s Eve witnessed a decline. On December 31, 2024, a total of 23 lakh liquor bottles were sold, compared to 24 lakh on the same day in 2023.
The decline was attributed to December 31 falling on a Tuesday, a day when many refrain from consuming alcohol due to religious reasons.
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The revenue for the excise department included Rs 4,233 crore from excise duty and Rs 1,828 crore from Value Added Tax (VAT).
In comparison, between April and December 2023, the department earned Rs 5,361 crore in excise revenue, which included Rs 1,643 crore from VAT.
The data also shows that the revenue collection this year was also higher ahead of festival season and year-end, especially during October, November, and December. Last year, excise revenue of Rs 705.8 crore was collected in October, Rs 760 crore in November and Rs 760 crore in December. In 2023, in October, the department collected Rs 705.24 crore, Rs 604 crore in November and Rs 620 crore in December.
For the financial year 2024-25, a revenue target of Rs 6,400 crore was set.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the total excise duty collected amounted to Rs 5,164 crore.
(With inputs from PTI)
