HYDERABAD: Beer salesgenerally spike in the summer, not when the mercury goes south.

This logic has, however, been turned on its head in Telangana.

Thanks to the November 30 assembly elections, the state is going through an unseasonal beer festival.

Sources in the excise department told STOI that between November 1 and November 20, about 22 lakh cases of beer were sold across Telangana.During the same period last year, some 12 lakh cases were sold.Though there is a marginal increase in overall liquor sales too for the same period compared to 2022, sources said many politicians and candidates had stocked up on what they thought was the favourite tipple of voters in their constituency even before the model code of conduct came into force.

They are now releasing this stock without catching the eye of the election officials.Compared to beer, hard liquor sales have been tepid, but many observers say this may not give the real picture.

Between November 1 and November 20, Rs 1,470 crore worth of liquor was sold as against Rs 1,260 crore during the corresponding period last year, showing a marginal increase of only Rs 210 crore.

"Like beer, candidates have already stored a lot of stuff.

In the past month more than Rs 100 crore worth liquor was seized by the authorities, which can only be the tip of the liquor iceberg," said a government official.'Deals made for discreet liquor sales' Sources also said that since the Election Commission ordered the closure of liquor shops from November 28 to end of voting on November 30, many have already made arrangements with some of the shops to slip them a large stock when needed.

The scenario was different in 2018 elections when liquor sales dipped just before voting day.

There was a drop of about 35% in liquor sales then during the election season when compared to the same period in 2017.

Election Commission authorities had claimed that their strict monitoring had caused the dip in sales.Sources also said that since the Election Commission ordered the closure of liquor shops from November 28 to end of voting on November 30, many have already made arrangements with some of the shops to slip them a large stock when needed.

The scenario was different in 2018 elections when liquor sales dipped just before voting day.

There was a drop of about 35% in liquor sales then during the election season when compared to the same period in 2017.

Election Commission authorities had claimed that their strict monitoring had caused the dip in sales.