The West Bengal government expects to earn over Rs 19,600 crore in excise duty in the current financial year, boosted by beer sales as temperature rises.

A senior excise official said that until February, the government had earned Rs 17,585 crore in excise duty, and the amount may cross Rs 19,600 crore in March owing to Holi celebrations and “hot weather increasing sales of beer”.

According to the department, 21.5 lakh cases of beer were sold as of February, and the number could cross 27 lakh in March.

Data from the excise department show that in February, liquor worth Rs 2,088 crore was sold in the state.

In the financial year 2022-2023, the government made Rs 16,266 crore in excise duty, while in 2023-2024, the figure was over Rs 18,000 crore.

Excise duty, stamp duty and public transport are the main sources of revenue for the state.

According to the state government’s financial statement, the revenue deficit estimated for the financial year 2025-26 is Rs 35,314 crore.