Mumbai, Jan 2 (PTI) : The Maharashtra government is reaping double benefits after banning country liquor from the state as the move has led to an increase in revenue by Rs 1200 crore and a drop in wife beating cases by 35 per cent.

"The ban on the country liquor has given an additional revenue of Rs 1200 crore to the excise department. We also welcome the socially important gain of decrease in cases of wife beating by drunken husbands by 35 per cent," Home Minister R R Patil said.

Liquor addiction is a social evil and has a negative impact on the society. There were lot of complaints about wife beating and harassment by husbands after consuming  country liquor as it is very cheap and affordable, Patil said.

Authorised liquor is expensive and therefore not purchased by poor people, he added.
The Minister also claimed that the production of country liquor has almost stopped in the state after stringent action was taken on two IPS officials by suspending them in a case related to it.

Meanwhile, social justice department is preparing a de-addiction policy for the state to keep away youths from liquor and cigarettes.