Guwahati: Guwahati, known for its vibrant celebrations, welcomed the New Year with fervor and a notable surge in alcohol consumption. On the eve of New Year's 2023, the city witnessed an uptick in liquor sales, reaching a staggering Rs 8.5 crore, as per excise department figures.
This surge follows a consistent rise in alcohol consumption, as highlighted by the excise department's report until November 30, 2022. In the first eleven months of 2022, Guwahati consumed approximately 1.42 crores litres of alcohol, including over 7.65 million litres of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and more than 6.63 million litres of beer.
Notably, liquor sales on December 31, 2022, amounted to Rs 4.80 crore, with January 1, 2023, recording sales of Rs 3.21 crore in the Kamrup Metropolitan district. These figures surpassed the previous year's records, reflecting a growing trend in alcohol consumption. Liquor worth Rs 3,66,89,00 was sold on New Year's eve in 2022.
Acknowledging the increasing demand, the Assam government has taken proactive measures to regulate alcohol sales. Additional liquor licenses have been issued to ensure consumers have access to legal and high-quality products, aiming to protect regular drinkers from the potential health risks associated with illicit alcohol.
The state has also implemented measures to monitor the quality of locally made tribal drinks, making them available to consumers through legal channels.
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