Kerala: BevQ may return to revive liquor sales & boost revenue

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the state incurring a revenue loss of almost Rs 1,000 crore in a month after liquor sales were halted, the government is once again exploring the possibility of reintroducing the queue management mobile application that was used last year for liquor sales.
Liquor sales through Bevco outlets and bar hotels were discontinued in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic from April 27. Liquor sales had begun on a positive note in the current financial year with the government earning approximately Rs 970 crore through sales from April 1 to April 27. However, it decided to shut down Bevco outlets and bars once again from April 27.
Though a proposal for delivering IMFL (Indian-made foreign liquor) to homes was also under consideration, the government decided not to take the proposal further fearing a backlash from civil society with political opponents alleging that it would promote alcohol consumption. It is at this juncture that the mobile application is under revival, even if lockdown is lifted.
“Unless test positivity rate is below 10% and things are under control, opening Bevco outlets or bar counters cannot be expected. To tide over the heavy losses the exchequer will have to bear if sales don’t continue, queue management application is the next option available,” said top Bevco sources.
Last financial year, the state earned a robust revenue from liquor sales. It earned Rs 11,743.99 crore through liquor sales during the last financial year, which is only 5.28% less compared to the immediate year before it. In 2019-20, liquor sales fetched the state exchequer Rs 12,398 crore, after deducting operational cost, bills of manufacturers, other costs incurred by Bevco and its profit margin.
This was possible not only because sales happened after shops reopened, but the mobile application, BevQ , was introduced after the initial lockdown was lifted last year.
It is reliably learnt that the government may think about reintroducing the mobile app, after making some modifications to it as the sales by Bevco outlets and bar hotels using the application had earned criticism that the latter was making more profits as Bevco was incurring a loss of Rs 3 per Rs 100 on bottles sold to bar hotels from Bevco warehouses.
“A minor modification will be required in the application whereby the share of sales through Bevco outlets and bar hotels will have to be fixed,” sources added.