Beer consumption drops in K'taka, excise department to conduct survey

Bengaluru: As the number of people consuming beer in the state has been dropping down, the Karnataka excise department has directed all the excise joint commissioners and deputy commissioners to conduct a study about this reversing trend.

Earlier the sale of beer showed an increasing trend year after year, but this time, the quantum of beer sale has been dwindling.

The excise department has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter and find out the reasons which contributed to the descending sale of beer in the state. The department also directed the officials to submit the reports with recommendations about steps to be taken to reach the sales target at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Bar Owners’ Association representative Karunakar Hegde said that how can they achieve higher sales, if the department fails to supply the quantity demanded.

The department has not been supplying beer in enough quantities as beer does not bring good revenue to the government, alleged some bar owners.

It may be recalled that the former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had hiked the excise duty on draught beer and beer produced at microbreweries in the state 2019-20 budget.