National Trends: IMFL is Growing Fast
In the financial year 2022-23, IMFL sales grew by 14%, reaching 385 million cases. Many people are now buying expensive liquor, which shows that more people prefer high-end brands. Liquor bottles that cost more than ₹1,000 for 750ml grew by 48%.
In 2023-24, companies making IMFL saw their revenue go up by 12%. The high-end segment grew more than 20%, while the cheaper segment grew around 5-7%.
One major company, Pernod Ricard, saw its sales grow by 4% in India during the first half of 2023-24. Brands like Blenders Pride, Imperial Blue, and Royal Stag helped this growth, along with imported ones like Jameson and Absolut.
Regional Trends: Desi Daru Still Popular
In Nagpur (Maharashtra), in the first five months of 2024, people bought 2.42 crore litres of alcohol. Country liquor made up about 46% of it, which shows how common Desi Daru still is in smaller cities.
In Madhya Pradesh, Desi Daru sales went up 23.2% over ten years. This is because country liquor is much cheaper than IMFL, so many people in rural areas still prefer it.
In Noida (Uttar Pradesh), during New Year’s Eve 2024, people bought ₹14 crore worth of liquor. Out of that, 1.4 lakh litres were Desi Daru, and 1.17 lakh litres were IMFL. This shows that even in cities, Desi Daru is still in demand.
Other Trends and Policy Effects
There is a clear shift toward premium liquor. Expensive IMFL products (more than ₹500 per 750ml) now make up 20% of all sales.
Also, a new trade deal between the UK and India in 2025 has cut taxes on Scotch whisky from 150% to 75%. This will likely make more people try imported liquor in the future.
Conclusion
Even though IMFL is becoming more popular across India, Desi Daru is still strong in rural and low-income areas. Both types of liquor are growing in their own ways, depending on the price and the customer.
