Empty beer bottles fetch a fortune for KTDC

KOCHI: If the state government has always shown its prowess in making huge profits out of the rampant alcohol abuse in the state, then the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) is just a step ahead of that.The KTDC earned over Rs 60 lakh last fiscal — not by selling alcohol, but through selling used beer bottles alone!The KTDC has 35 alcohol outlets in the state, which include hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. Of these, 21 are beer parlours and two outlets sell liquor also. The KTDC calls a formal tender every year to sell its used bottles. Beer parlours are the best buyers. “On an average, each outlet in the state sells around 600 beer cases every month. A single case contains 12 bottles. This adds  up to over 30 lakh bottles every year,” KTDC commercial manager K P Ramesh says. The KTDC had begun this practice years ago to dispose of accumulating bottles. “Even as we tackle disposal of the bottles, the organisation gets to make some profit too,” KTDC secretary P Sreekumar says.The highest sales have been observed in north Kerala.  But some complain that the overall sales have come down. “Once in two months, the bottles are collected by the agencies that win the tenders. Last year, the price was fixed at Rs 2.1 per bottle. This year, it has come down to Rs 1.9, thereby bringing down the profits. Even the total number of bottles being sold is declining. Some branded companies seek their bottles to be returned,” KTDC commercial manager K P Ramesh says.But in spite of this grave scenario, the KTDC seems to be doing much better than corporations like the Kerala State Beverages Corporation which has been losing its beer bottles to misuse.“We are looking into a proposal to sell bottles. The Kerala State Beverages Corporation has certain constraints since bottles are sold to customers. But the Excise Department is considering ways in which it could be done,” Excise Minister K Babu says.