Despite the closure of 1,000 liquor shops after AIADMK government came to power for the second consecutive time in 2016, the sales of liquor touched all time high of nearly Rs 27,000 crore in 2016-17.

Disclosing this in the Assembly on Monday, Prohibition and Excise Minister P. Thangamani said the Government earned Rs. 6,248.17 crore through excise revenue and Rs. 20,747.08 through VAT sales tax through liquor sales in 2016-17.

The total liquor sale touched Rs. 26,995.25 in 2016-17, an increase of about 4.5 per cent compared to previous year’s figure of Rs 25,845.58. Liquor sales in Tamil Nadu is the second highest money earner after tax collection.

Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa ordered the closure of 500 liquor shops after taking over the power in 2016.

After Jayalalithaa’s death, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami ordered the closure another 500 liquor shops.

When Palaniswami took over, there were about 6,000 liquor shops in the State.

The Tamil Nadu Government was forced to close about 3,500 liquor shops along the State and National Highways following a Supreme Court order.