Keralites celebrated Onam not only with a delicious Sadhya but also in great spirit, breaking their own record in Kerala. The city has set a new record in terms of liquor sales during Onam 2025, with total sales reaching a whopping INR 970.74 crore over the twelve days of the festival. Last year’s Onam celebrations saw sales of INR 842.07, while this year the sales amount rose by 9.34%, setting a new record.
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) recorded an unprecedented INR 970.74 crore in liquor sales over the period from August 25 to September 6 across its BEVCO ( Kerala State Beverages (M&M) Corporation Limited ) outlets. It marks the highest ever alcohol sales recorded in the state’s history during the Onam season, with over 9.34 per cent growth compared to last year.
The spike in liquor sales during Onam shows the festival's enduring impact on Kerala's retail liquor market. As the state's most important cultural celebration, Onam brings families together, and the accompanying surge in liquor sales reflects the sector's dependence on these peak periods to drive growth and revenue.
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The data from KSBC (Kerala State Beverages Corporation) shows that the sales peaked on September 4, which happens to be the Uthradam day. This day is known to be the busiest day in Kerala ahead of the Thiruvonam holiday for liquor sales. The sales had reached INR 137.64 crore on this day alone, with notable spikes of INR 96.52 crore on September 3 and INR 90.43 crore on September 4. These substantial milestones set the stage for the eventual record-breaking total of ₹970.74 crore, which was ultimately reached as the Onam festivities progressed.
Kollam district in Kerala led the rankings as among the KSBC’s outlet network; the Kollam Karungappally store registered a sale of INR 1.46 crore on Uthradam. It is the highest single-day sales of liquor on Uthradam this year. This record was closely followed by another store in Kollam, the Kavanand Ashramam store, with INR 1.24 crore.
Among the KSBC’s outlet network, the Kuttippala Edappal outlet in Malappuram recorded INR 1.11 crore of single-day sales. These figures highlight the consumer rush that is concentrated in certain localities alongside the extensive geographic distribution of heavy liquor sales.
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All the BEVCO ( Kerala State Beverages (M&M) Corporation Limited ) outlets were shut down on Thiruvonam as per the regulations, which led to an increase in sales on the preceding days. Kerala currently has 278 BEVCO outlets with 155 self-service beverage stores providing enough accessibility and convenience to the customers.
The INR 970.74 crore sales record during Onam 2025 showcases Kerala's unique festival-driven liquor market and also shows BEVCO's crucial role in supporting the state's economy as well as the cultural traditions.
