Tipplers raise Rs.1350 cr toast for New Year celebrations in Telangana

Telangana recorded liquor sales of nearly Rs 1,350 crore during the New Year festive period, with a sharp surge seen in the last three days of December. Officials attributed the rise to higher demand and the new Excise policy.

Hyderabad: Telangana’s tipplers rang in the New Year with record enthusiasm, pushing liquor sales in the State to nearly Rs 1,350 crore, as retail outlets, bars and hotels witnessed an unprecedented rush during the festive period.

In just the last three days of December, the Excise department registered sales of about Rs 980 crore, a sharp jump compared to the same period last year. Officials said the spike reflected higher consumption and better availability following the rollout of the new Excise policy last month.

---

Liquor outlets that secured licences under the revised policy began operations from December 1. As many as 3,620 retail outlets and 1,100 bars, clubs and hotels together reported brisk business, with several outlets running packed counters well into the night.

Anticipating strong demand for New Year celebrations, vendors had stocked up well in advance. According to the Excise department, liquor sales worth nearly Rs 1,350 crore were recorded from December 25 onwards.

Of this, sales touched around Rs 280 crore on December 29, rose sharply to Rs 380 crore on December 30, and remained high at Rs 315 crore on December 31. The figures are significantly higher than the Rs 738 crore recorded during the last three days of December 2024.

Officials said that in the final three days of December 2025 alone, about 8.30 lakh liquor cases and 7.78 lakh beer cases were sold across the State. With celebrations continuing, they also expected considerable sales on Thursday, marking New Year’s Day.