This New Year saw a quiet but clear change in how Belagavi celebrated. Despite the biting cold, beer replaced costly whisky as the drink of choice as people welcomed 2026, preferring to sip slowly with friends rather than opt for stronger spirits.
Excise department data from December 31, 2025, reflects this shift. Across the district, 1,62,344 bottles of beer were consumed — 7,525 bottles more than last year, indicating beer’s rising popularity even in peak winter.
In contrast, whisky sales declined. The long-held belief that winter boosts whisky consumption did not hold this year. Whisky sales dropped from 75,904 bottles in 2024 to 70,865 bottles in 2025, a fall of 5,039 bottles.
Taluk-wise trend
Belagavi taluk led beer consumption with 77,351 bottles, far ahead of other regions.
Savadatti recorded an increase from 26,507 to 28,773 bottles, while Ramdurg saw sales rise from 17,969 to 18,312 bottles. Bailhongal registered a marginal increase, while Khanapur saw a slight dip.
Whisky sales, however, declined sharply in several taluks. Compared to last year, sales fell by 1,693 bottles in Savadatti, 1,399 in Ramdurg, and 1,387 in Bailhongal.