New Delhi: South India continues to dominate India’s liquor market, accounting for 58% of total IMFL (Indian-Made Foreign Liquor) sales in FY25, according to industry body CIABC. Karnataka retained the national top spot, contributing 17% of overall sales with 6.88 crore cases, followed by Tamil Nadu at 16% with 6.47 crore cases.
The southern states — Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry — together sold 23.38 crore cases of IMFL, cementing their position as the country’s largest liquor-consuming region. Puducherry stood out with 10% growth, selling 0.28 crore cases.
In contrast, the northern region contributed 20% of IMFL sales, with Uttar Pradesh leading at 2.5 crore cases, making it the sixth-largest state nationwide. Rajasthan, Delhi, and Haryana followed with 1.37 crore, 1.18 crore, and 1.17 crore cases, respectively.
The western region accounted for 12% of sales, led by Maharashtra at 2.71 crore cases (58% of the region’s sales). The eastern region made up 10%, with West Bengal on top at 1.49 crore cases.
However, overall growth in FY25 was slow. National whisky sales fell to 34 crore cases from 39–40 crore cases in FY24. CIABC attributed this decline to weak demand in the first quarter due to elections and excise policy changes in some states.
CIABC Director General Anant Iyer said the industry has been facing challenges from frequent policy shifts and rising state levies. “These changes impact sales in the short to medium term. Still, we are seeing strong growth in markets like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Delhi, too, is expected to grow once a new excise policy is rolled out,” he added.
