Bhubaneswar Liquor Sales Hit Record ₹32.55 Crore During New Year Week

02 Jan 2026, 10:44 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

The capital city of Odisha toasted the new year with an unprecedented surge in alcohol consumption, recording a massive ₹32.55 crore in liquor sales during the final week of 2025. According to official data from the Excise Department, the city’s drinking spree peaked between December 25 and December 31, more than doubling the usual weekly revenue of approximately ₹14 crore.

The lion’s share of the revenue was driven by Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), which saw sales of 2.80 lakh litres valued at ₹28.04 crore. Beer followed as the second most popular choice, with revellers consuming 1.78 lakh litres worth ₹3.56 crore. Additionally, 2.35 lakh litres of country-made liquor were sold, contributing ₹94.20 lakh to the total collection. This surge was particularly evident on New Year’s Eve, where popular hubs like Patia reported individual pub collections crossing ₹4.8 lakh in a single night due to sold-out “Zero Night” packages.

The festive boom was not limited to beverages; the food industry mirrored this high demand. On December 31 alone, non-vegetarian food sales in the city reached ₹7.01 crore, with mutton and chicken sales accounting for ₹2.52 crore and ₹2.35 crore, respectively. Excise officials attributed the record-breaking numbers to the extended holiday season, a rising urban nightlife culture, and colder weather conditions that traditionally drive up consumption.

To manage the massive influx, the Odisha State Beverage Corporation (OSBC) scaled up supply across its three Bhubaneswar depots. Simultaneously, authorities intensified enforcement, seizing contraband worth ₹2.7 crore and arresting 95 individuals over the two-day peak period. Despite the high revenue, officials emphasized that strict monitoring remained in place to curb illicit trade and ensure compliance with “ON” and “OFF” shop regulations.