(a) whether the use of liquor all over the country is
increasing day by day;
(b) if so, whether liquor business brings a great revenue
to the Government;
(c) if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps taken to check the increasing fund in use of
liquor?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (I/C)
(SHRI SUBODH KANT SAHAI)
(a) to (c): Total domestic production plus import of alcohol
(both industrial and potable) has increased nearly by 20%
from year 2000-01 to year 2005-06 i.e. in 6 years, which
comes to more than 3% increase per annum. All India annual
consumption of all liquors in 2004-05 was 3,281 lakh cases
with per 100 capita consumption of 34 cases (excluding
prohibition States/ UTs). States collected revenue of more
than Rs. 27,865 Crores including Sales Tax on manufacture
and sale of liquor with annual per capita tax of Rs. 282.
The overall liquor consumption registered a CAGR of 5.40%
from 02-03 to 04-05, which is higher than the growth rate of
population but lower than the growth rate of economy.
Revenue, however, registered a higher CAGR of 8.7%, which is
higher than the growth in volume as well as in the economy.
(d): Liquor is universally recognized as a socially negative
product. Alcohol is recognized for its revenue generating
potential. Most effective measures in reducing the use of
liquor includes restriction on physical availability,
minimum age law, monopoly and licensing system, liquor taxes
and restriction on discounting and policies such as maximum
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) law etc. Raising rates
beyond the threshold would lead to evasion of taxes,
smuggling and illicit distillation instead of generating
higher revenue and discouraging consumption. Therefore, the
efforts should be to rationalize tax and policy regime so as
to plug leakages and realize the revenue due to the states
from controlled, legitimate and responsible drinking.