KOCHI: The Association of Distillers, Brewers and Vintners of India (ADBVI) has demanded that the state government increase the price of the liquor by `5 for every 750ml bottle. The Association members on Tuesday said that they were facing heavy losses owing to a steep increase in the price of raw materials used for preparing liquor. ADBVI director general, Sushil Haksar said that the government had given assurances to increase the price when the association protested during the Onam season. The protest was withdrawn respecting the contract signed by the distillers. “Every year alcohol prices come down in the months of November and December, but the price has been increasing this year. Kerala has always depended on other states for the raw materials. Since Maharashtra started export of alcohol, the price has gone up. The price of ethanol has climbed by `5 a litre this year and stands at `53 a litre this month,” Sushil Haksar said.ADBVI state president T R Vijayakumar said the liquor industry is the most revenue generating in the state with a profit of `7,000 crore during the fiscal year 2009-2010.“If the Kerala State Beverages Corporation sells a product for `250, only `22 is given to the distillers,” he said.In 2009-2010, an increase of six percent for liquor products above `400 per case and four percent for the products below `400 per case was given, T R Vijayakumar said.
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