AI-generated representational image depicting a liquor retail scene. Credit: thebengalurulive.com.
Bengaluru: Karnataka beer sales increased 41.32% during the first six months of 2026–27, while excise collections reached Rs 22,191.63 crore, according to a press note issued by the Karnataka Excise Commissioner.
The state sold 275.96 lakh case boxes of beer between April and September 2026, compared with 195.27 lakh during the corresponding period in 2025—an increase of 80.69 lakh case boxes.
Beer sales growth accelerated in the second quarter. July–September volumes rose 49.69% to 126.68 lakh case boxes, following growth of 34.92% during April–June.
Beer revenue increased 19.08% over the six-month period, reaching Rs 3,377.88 crore against Rs 2,836.64 crore a year earlier.
Excise Revenue Rises Rs 2,621 Crore
Total excise collections increased by Rs 2,621.40 crore from Rs 19,570.23 crore in April–September 2025, registering growth of 13.39%.
Indian Made Liquor (IML) accounted for Rs 17,424.57 crore in revenue, up 13.32% from Rs 15,376.22 crore. Collections from other sources, including licence fees and fines, rose 2.34% to Rs 1,389.18 crore.
Quarterly excise collections stood at Rs 10,595.75 crore during April–June and Rs 11,595.88 crore during July–September, recording year-on-year increases of 14.35% and 12.54%, respectively.
IML Volumes Record Modest Growth
IML sales volumes rose 1.14% to 346.83 lakh case boxes during April–September, compared with 342.93 lakh a year earlier. Beer therefore recorded substantially stronger volume growth than IML.
The Bengaluru Live previously reported on Karnataka’s revised taxation and pricing structure in “Karnataka Liquor Prices Slashed”, following the introduction of the Alcohol-in-Beverage system on May 11, 2026.
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Atul Chaturvedi 
