₹688 croreliquor gulped down in 48 hours

As fireworks lit up the sky and cheers echoed across the state, Telangana's tipplers raised the bar – quite literally – by smashing liquor sales records this New Year's Eve. In a phenomenal festive frenzy, December 2025 witnessed an unprecedented Rs 5,050 crore in liquor sales, marking the first time a single month crossed the Rs 5,000 crore milestone. "Cheers to the new year – and a new record!" quipped excise officials, as the state exchequer toasted to this historic windfall.

The real fireworks exploded in the final days, with sales skyrocketing far beyond the usual daily average of Rs 150-200 crore. On December 30, revellers splashed out a staggering Rs 375 crore, followed by Rs 313 crore on New Year's Eve itself – a jaw-dropping surge that turned ordinary days into blockbuster bonanzas. Other peak days included Rs 282 crore on December 29, Rs 192 crore on December 26, and Rs 182 crore on December 27. The last five days alone raked in over Rs 1,344 crore, proving that when it comes to welcoming the new year, Telangana knows how to party hard!

This "New Year intoxication" wasn't just about celebrations; the coincidence of local sarpanch elections added fuel to the fire, creating a double-dose of euphoria that sent crowds thronging liquor outlets. New shops under the revised excise policy also cashed in, with districts like Hyderabad leading the charge.

Telangana's love affair with liquor continues to grow, evolving from Rs 10,000 crore annually in 2014-15 to projections exceeding Rs 34,600 crore for 2024-25. This December record is a testament to the state's vibrant festive spirit: when the clock strikes midnight, the cash registers ring loudest!

Dasara Celebrations: A festive prelude to Record-breaking revelry

Earlier in 2025, Dasara set the stage for this year-end extravaganza with its own "Rs 1,000 Crore Jackpot" in just four days (September 28 to October 1). Sales peaked at Rs 320 crore on October 1, Rs 301 crore on September 30, Rs 279 crore on September 29, and Rs 260 crore on September 28 – with the final two days alone hauling in Rs 620 crore.

Tipplers bulk-bought ahead of the mandatory dry day on October 2 (Dasara-Gandhi Jayanti overlap), outpacing previous years: eclipsing the Rs 1,057 crore over nine days in 2023 and Rs 1,100 crore over ten days in 2024. September's total hit Rs 2,715 crore, fueled by 26.71 lakh cases of liquor and 33.24 lakh cases of beer. Districts in the erstwhile Rangareddy region, Karimnagar, Nalgonda, and Warangal topped the charts, as households and organizers stocked up for multi-day merriment.