Thiruvananthapuram: Private liquor bars in Kerala bagged over Rs 60-crore sales as government-owned retail outlets remained closed for Thiruvonam festival. This was the first time that the 429 bars in the state were allowed to function on a holiday, ignoring a government policy that every liquor outlet has to remain shuttered if alcohol sale is disallowed on a holiday.

The government-owned Beverages Corporation (Bevco) could not refuse a Thiruvonam holiday for employees as it had been a practice for several years. This helped the private bars to reap good sales as the government retail outlets remain shuttered.

The Bevco had sold Rs 49 crore worth liquor and the Consumerfed had a Rs 12 crore sale in the previous year for Thiruvonam alone. This year, Bevco got Rs 45.78 crore on Uthradom day, an increase from the Rs 44 crore on the same festival day, the previous year. Huge sale was expected for Uthradom this year as the subsequent day, Thiruvonam, was declared a holiday. However, drinkers didn't throng the government bars on Uthradom as they had an alternative in private bars on the main festival day.

As expected, the private bars were choc a bloc on Thiruvonam this year even though the spirits are priced thrice more than those at Bevco outlets.