Lucknow, March 5, 2026:
The festive season brought strong business for the excise department in Lucknow, as liquor worth around ₹22 crore was sold in just one day ahead of Holi on March 3. This is ₹4 crore more than last year, when sales during the same period were about ₹18 crore.
Excise officials said the increase was mainly due to people buying liquor in advance, since shops remain closed on Holi. The festival was celebrated on March 4, prompting many residents to stock up the day before.
According to Lucknow District Excise Officer Karunendra Singh, the total sales included foreign liquor, beer, and country-made liquor. Liquor stores across the city, including premium outlets, composite shops, and model shops, saw heavy crowds as customers queued up to purchase their preferred brands.
Industry representatives said foreign liquor sales grew by around 25–30%, while country-made liquor sales increased by about 10–12% during the period. Shopkeepers reported long queues outside many outlets throughout the day, with customers buying liquor in large quantities for Holi celebrations.
Data from the excise department shows that on March 3 alone, around 2.9 lakh litres of beer were sold in the city. In addition, sales included nearly 1.4 lakh litres of country-made liquor and about 1.1 lakh litres of foreign liquor.
Officials said the rise in sales compared to last year was driven by festive demand and the common practice of purchasing liquor in advance due to the dry day on Holi.
During the busy period, excise department teams closely monitored liquor outlets across the city. Enforcement teams conducted inspections to ensure shops followed pricing rules and regulations and to prevent illegal sales or excessive stockpiling during the festival season.
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