The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) announced that liquor sales for the month of December reached $42.8 million. This represents a record number for liquor sales in a single month, and is an increase of 18.48% over December 2019 sales of $36.1 million.
“December 2020 was the highest grossing month for liquor sales in ABD history,” says Leisa Bertram, ABD’s Comptroller. “Though ABD has experienced increased liquor sales throughout the fiscal year, the revenue in December far surpassed previous months.”
Fiscal Year 2020, which ended on June 30, 2020, saw a record for yearly liquor sales and an increase of 8.2% over the previous fiscal year. Sales continued to rise through December. The number of deliveries and cases sold also increased over the previous fiscal year, by 12.7% and 18.5% respectively.
Liquor profits transfer back to the State of Iowa General Fund for appropriation by the legislature, and the Iowa Department of Public Health for the administration of substance abuse and prevention programs.