Indian states with highest alcohol revenue FY 2016

In the financial year 2016, Tamil Nadu was the Indian state with the highest alcohol revenue at about 300 billion Indian rupees. India has the third-largest alcohol market in the world. The revenue of alcoholic drinks in the country was more than 67 billion dollars in 2018. Despite its uses for medical purposes in Ayurveda, the cultural diversity in India makes alcohol a controversial commodity in the country.

The market

The market is composed of Indian-made liquor (IMIL), Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL), wine, beer and imported products. Indians did not seem to enjoy the imported liquor; the market share of imported liquor was less than five percent in 2017, whereas the country’s own liquor share was almost 50 percent. Amongst spirits, whiskey was the clear favorite with close to 200 million nine-liter cases sold in 2016.

Stereotypes and society

Alcohol consumption in India has always been a battle between social and economic consequences. The war has benefitted the black market where almost three liters of pure alcohol were sold per capita in 2016. The industry continues to grow nonetheless, tackling lawmakers and condemners. With a bit of help from the government and a bit more tolerance, the growth may be able to become steady.