Liquor

Cristal Azul targets 150,000 cases and ₹150 crore India revenue by 2026

New York-born, Mexico-produced tequila Cristal Azul is targeting 1.5 lakh cases and Rs 150 crore in revenue in its first two years in India, betting on premium spirits growth

Nuvama upbeat on alco-bev space, bets on United Spirits and ABD; here's why

Raw material costs will remain supportive for spirits players, with prices of ENA (extra neutral alcohol) and glass expected to stay benign

Delhi govt mops up ₹600 cr in excise revenue from liquor sale during Diwali

The Delhi government mopped up about Rs 600 crore in excise revenue from the sale of liquor from retail stores run by its corporations during Diwali, officials said on Thursday. The excise department has recorded sale of Rs 594 crore of liquor from the retail vends during 15 days preceding Diwali, a senior Delhi government officer said. The revenue from liquor sale this year was 15 per cent higher than the sale during the same period last year, he said. "The sale was Rs 516 crore during the fortnight before Diwali in 2024. "This year's sale of Rs 594 crore during the same period shows that there is 15 per cent increase in the total quantum of sale amount of liquor," he said. The Delhi government registered over 12 per cent growth in excise revenue collection in the first half of the current financial year as compared to the same period last year, officials said. As per official figures, the excise revenue, including value added tax (VAT) was Rs 3,731.79 crore during April-Septemb

Dussehra rush pushes Telangana liquor sales to record ₹1,000 cr in 4 days

Telangana liquor sales surged ahead of Dussehra, with ₹260 crore on September 28, ₹279 crore on September 29, ₹301 crore on September 30 and ₹320 crore on October 1 lifted by shops

Andhra liquor scam: Kickbacks laundered through employees, say police

A chargesheet filed by the Andhra Pradesh police in connection with the alleged Rs 3,500-crore liquor scam in a local court alleges that the kickbacks were systematically laundered through low-profile individuals, such as office boys or employees. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged liquor scam filed a supplementary chargesheet on Monday. "During the course of investigation, it was revealed that the accused have systematically laundered the kickback amount with the help of low-profile individuals who were working as office boys or employees in the companies owned by the accused," officials said quoting the chargesheet. "Such employees and individuals acted as couriers and mules for depositing illicit cash into a network of bank accounts linked to the syndicate," they added. This pattern of cash layering and circulation demonstrates a deliberate attempt to conceal the origin of crime proceeds, constituting a classic case of structured money laundering and ...

Gen Z defies 'sober generation' label, alcohol consumption picking up

The IWSR survey found that the proportion of Gen Z adults who reported consuming alcohol in the past six months rose from 66 per cent in March 2023 to 73 per cent in March 2025

For Herman Jansen, India still a strategically-important emerging market

The company will focus on growing its European and South East Asian market, says Diederik Jansen

Maharashtra hikes excise duty on liquor, introduces new category: Details

Maharashtra hikes excise duty on Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor, introduces new Maharashtra-Made Liquor category; state expects ₹14,000 crore in revenue boost

In FY24, Indians tightened belts but ramped up happy hours to fresh high

In fact, consumption of alcoholic beverages grew at the fastest pace since 2011-12 when the current GDP data series was launched

MOFSL projects 22% upside for this liquor stock; up 2% in weak market today

The uptick in Radico Khaitan shares came after domestic brokerage Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited (MOFSL) initiated coverage on the stock with a 'Buy' rating.

Days after Amritsar hootch tragedy, 3 die consuming liquor in Ludhiana

Close on the heels of the Amritsar hooch tragedy that claimed 27 lives, three persons died after allegedly consuming liquor at Basti Jodhewal in Ludhiana district, police said Thursday. However, the exact cause of the deaths will be ascertained only after post-mortem examinations, ADCP Davinder Chaudhary said. Three labourers -- Rinku (40), Debi (27) and Mangoo (32) -- consumed liquor at a vacant plot along Noorwala Road on Wednesday night. Shortly after, they lost consciousness and began frothing at the mouth. They were rushed to the civil hospital, where doctors declared them dead, police said. Earlier this month, 27 people lost their lives in Amritsar after consuming spurious liquor, in which most of the victims were daily wagers. A probe revealed that methanol -- a chemical used in industrial products -- was procured in bulk online to prepare the toxic brew.

Liquor giant Pernod Ricard denied Delhi liquor licence again amid probe

The latest rejection comes despite an Indian appeals authority advising city officials to reconsider, citing lack of conviction in investigations against the company

Andhra Pradesh liquor scam accused Balaji Govindappa arrested in Mysore

The Andhra Pradesh Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the charges of Rs 3,200 crore liquor scam that had allegedly taken place during the previous YSRCP regime in the state has arrested an accused in the case, Balaji Govindappa, in Mysore on Tuesday, said an official. Govindappa is one of the several accused in the case. "Govindappa has been arrested in Mysore today," the official confirmed to PTI. He is an executive director at Bharati Cement Pvt Ltd. According to a source, SIT officials searched Govindappa's residence in Hyderabad three days ago, followed by his arrest today. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case with regard to the alleged liquor scam. The ED case stems from a September 2024 FIR of the Economic Offences CID of the state police. In the recent remand report of Kasireddy Raja Sekhar Reddy, the prime accused in the alleged liquor scam, the SIT has named several people who allegedly played a key role between 2019 a

No liquor to be sold in Madhya Pradesh's religious cities starting today

A ban on liquor in 19 religious cities and areas under select gram panchayats in Madhya Pradesh, including Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar and Maihar, came into effect on Tuesday. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described it as a "historic step towards de-addiction". The CM had announced the liquor ban decision and it was approved by the cabinet on January 24 at its meeting held in Maheshwar town, a place closely associated with legendary medieval-era queen Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. According to the decision, all liquor shops and bars will be closed down in the entire urban limits of Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, Panna, Mandla, Multai, Mandsaur and Amarkantak and in the gram panchayat limits of Salkanpur, Kundalpur, Bandakpur, Barmankalan, Barmankhurd and Linga, an official said. The BJP government has declared these 19 urban and rural areas as "completely sacred", and imposed a total ban on liquor under their jurisdiction. Yadav in a ..

AAP announces protests across UP over liquor stores offering 'free alcohol'

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said it will hold statewide protests across Uttar Pradesh on March 29 over reports of liquor stores in the state offering "free alcohol'. Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming that while the Delhi government faced allegations and central agency probes over its excise policy, no one was questioning the UP government over such deals being offered by liquor stores. The UP government is yet to react to AAP's allegations. Reportedly, liquor stores across many cities in the state are offering huge discounts and deals to clear out the stocks before a new excise policy comes into effect in the state on April 1. The store owners have been claiming that they will suffer huge losses if they don't clear the old stock before the date. "In Delhi, our government stopped such practices, yet we were targeted with allegations and subjected to ED and CBI inquiries. But in UP, the BJP is providing free

BJP alleges Rs 1,000-crore liquor scam in Tamil Nadu, DMK calls it baseless

The BJP has accused the Tamil Nadu government of a Rs 1,000-crore liquor scam, but the DMK has denied the charges, calling them baseless

ED raids Bhupesh Baghel's son, others in Chhattisgarh liquor 'scam'

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday raided premises linked to the son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel and others in connection with an alleged liquor scam linked to a money laundering case in the state, official sources said. The premises of Chaitanya Baghel in Bhillai and some other persons in the state are being searched under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier said the Chhattisgarh liquor "scam" resulted in "massive loss" to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of proceeds of crime. The ED had arrested a number of persons, including state government bureaucrats and businessmen, in this case.

Radico Khaitan expects Rs 500 cr sales from luxury brands in FY26: MD

Encouraged by the ongoing premiumisation in the alcoholic beverage (alcobev) segment, Radico Khaitan expects sales of Rs 500 crore from its luxury brands, including single malt 'Rampur' and Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, in the next fiscal, its Managing Director Abhishek Khaitan said. The company expects an 8-9 per cent volume growth, and value growth of around "12-15 per cent", Khaitan told PTI, adding "this year has been a good year for us, and hopefully next year should be much better." For the next fiscal, he said, "We expect the same thing, our premium PNA category (Prestige & above) should grow more than 15 per cent and we should be close to overall double-digit growth." Radico Khaitan's luxury portfolio consists of Rampur Indian Single Malt, Jaisalmer Indian Craft Gin, Sangam World Malt and Spirit of Victory 1999 Pure Malt. "For the first time in Q3 (December quarter) we achieved a turnover of Rs 100 crore (from premium) and for the nine months of FY'24, we have achieved Rs ..

CAG cites irregularities in Delhi liquor policy, referred to PAC for probe

The CAG report on the Delhi liquor policy has been referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for examination, with the committee expected to submit its report within three months, assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said Thursday. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the regulation and supply of liquor in Delhi has highlighted serious irregularities in the implementation of the excise policy by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Following discussions in the assembly, the report has been referred to the PAC for a detailed probe, with findings expected within three months. Gupta made the announcement, stating that the matter required urgent attention due to the financial losses incurred by the government. The audit, conducted for the period between 2017 and 2021, pointed to significant lapses in the licensing process, pricing mechanisms, and regulatory oversight. It alleged that the policy led to substantial revenue losses, benefiting private companies at the exp

MP bans liquor in religious cities, introduces 'Low Alcoholic Beverage Bar'

The policy has also approved a new category, 'Low Alcoholic Beverage Bar', under which beer, wine, and ready-to-drink liquor with an alcohol content of 10 per cent or less will be served