According to the latest data released by the Uttar Pradesh Excise Department for April 2026, demand for country liquor (country-made liquor) recorded a notable increase across the state during the first month of the financial year.
During this period, the state government had fixed a total Minimum Guaranteed Quota (MGQ) of 66.67 million litres for the entire state. However, actual consumption during April 2026 reached 82.20 million litres, surpassing the prescribed quota by a significant margin.
The consumption figure was also slightly higher than the 81.85 million litres recorded during the corresponding month of the previous year, reflecting a growth of approximately 0.4 percent. Overall, the state achieved a recovery of 23.3 percent above the MGQ target, indicating strong market demand and healthy sales performance.
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Lucknow Zone Tops the State
A detailed analysis of departmental data shows that the Lucknow Zone emerged as the leading zone in terms of country liquor consumption across Uttar Pradesh.
During April 2026 alone, the zone recorded total consumption of 16.92 million litres. Although this was marginally lower—by around 0.2 percent—than the 16.95 million litres consumed during April 2025, the zone significantly outperformed its allotted MGQ of 12.22 million litres.
The figures underline the continued dominance of Lucknow Zone in the state’s country liquor market and demonstrate its ability to generate sales well above prescribed targets.
Agra and Meerut Follow Closely
After Lucknow, Agra Zone ranked second with consumption of 19.99 million litres, while Meerut Zone secured the third position with 19.94 million litres of country liquor sales during the month.
At the charge level, Lucknow Charge maintained its leadership position across the state. Meerut Charge and Gorakhpur Charge also reported strong performances and remained among the top contributors to overall sales.
Positive Outlook for Excise Revenue
The strong start to the financial year has boosted expectations within the Excise Department regarding revenue collection in the coming months. Officials believe that if the current sales momentum continues, Uttar Pradesh is likely to record robust excise revenue growth during the remainder of the financial year.
The latest figures reflect not only steady consumer demand but also the effectiveness of the state’s excise management and distribution network. With consumption consistently exceeding the Minimum Guaranteed Quota, the department expects further strengthening of revenue collections and overall market performance in the months ahead.
Meerut Charge Emerges as the Largest Beer Consumption Centre in Uttar Pradesh
Beer consumption in Uttar Pradesh witnessed a noticeable decline during April 2026. According to data released by the Excise Department, total beer sales in the state stood at 9.51 crore bottles, representing a 13.3 percent decrease compared to the corresponding period last year.
Despite the overall decline, demand for beer remained strong in the urban centres of western Uttar Pradesh, which continued to dominate the state’s beer market.
Meerut Charge Tops Beer Consumption
At the charge level, Meerut Charge recorded the highest beer consumption in the state during April 2026. The region registered sales of approximately 1.53 crore bottles, making it the largest beer-consuming charge in Uttar Pradesh.
The strong performance was driven by major urban districts such as Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar, where consumer demand for beer remained comparatively high.
In contrast, Basti Charge recorded the lowest consumption, with sales of only 28.48 lakh bottles during the month. The gap between Meerut Charge and Basti Charge was nearly 1.25 crore bottles, highlighting significant regional differences in beer consumption patterns across the state.
Meerut Zone Also Leads at the Zonal Level
Zonal data further reinforced the dominance of western Uttar Pradesh. Meerut Zone emerged as the top-performing zone, recording beer sales of 2.53 crore bottles during April 2026—the highest among all zones in the state.
Agra Zone secured the second position with sales of 2.15 crore bottles, while Lucknow Zone ranked third with consumption of 1.81 crore bottles.
On the other hand, Gorakhpur Zone reported the lowest beer consumption, with sales of 1.40 crore bottles during the same period.
Urban Markets Continue to Drive Demand
The latest figures indicate that although overall beer sales have softened compared to last year, urban and economically vibrant regions continue to account for a substantial share of consumption. The performance of Meerut, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar demonstrates the growing influence of metropolitan and semi-metropolitan markets on the state’s beer industry.
Excise officials believe that seasonal demand patterns, weather conditions, and changing consumer preferences will play a key role in determining beer sales trends in the coming months. Despite the decline in statewide volumes, western Uttar Pradesh remains the strongest beer market in the state and continues to be a crucial contributor to excise revenue.
Imported Liquor Consumption Records Mixed Trends Across Uttar Pradesh
Consumption of imported liquor (IMFL/spirits) in Uttar Pradesh showed mixed trends during April 2026, with Meerut Charge emerging as the highest-consuming region while Basti Charge recorded the lowest sales.
According to data released by the Excise Department, total consumption of imported liquor in the state reached 3.11 crore bottles during April 2026. Compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, overall consumption registered a 5.1 percent decline.
Meerut Charge Leads the State
At the charge level, Meerut Charge recorded the highest consumption, with sales of 47.57 lakh bottles during April 2026. The region’s strong performance was supported by major urban districts such as Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar, which continue to be among the state’s largest markets for premium and imported alcoholic beverages.
In contrast, Basti Charge reported the lowest consumption, with sales of only 5.66 lakh bottles, making it the least-consuming charge in Uttar Pradesh during the month.
Meerut Zone Tops Zonal Rankings
At the zonal level, Meerut Zone also secured the top position, recording consumption of 83.21 lakh bottles of imported liquor during April 2026.
Agra Zone ranked second with 71.61 lakh bottles, while Lucknow Zone occupied the third position with sales of 54.34 lakh bottles.
On the other hand, Varanasi Zone recorded the lowest consumption among all zones, with sales of 50.25 lakh bottles during the month.
Regional Variations Reflect Changing Consumer Preferences
Excise officials noted that several regions witnessed a decline in consumption compared with the previous year. However, certain districts and charges continued to show positive growth trends.
Districts such as Ballia, Sambhal, and Balrampur registered notable increases in demand for imported liquor, indicating evolving consumer preferences and expanding market penetration in select areas.
Urban Centres Continue to Drive Premium Consumption
The latest figures highlight the continued dominance of western Uttar Pradesh in the imported liquor segment. The strong performance of Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar underscores the growing importance of urban and affluent markets in driving demand for premium alcoholic beverages.
While overall state consumption declined during April 2026, the sector continues to witness growth pockets in emerging markets, suggesting that consumer demand remains resilient in key districts. Excise authorities will closely monitor sales trends in the coming months to assess whether the decline is temporary or indicative of a broader market shift.
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