Director of Commerce Kimberly Zurz announced that dollar sales of spirituous liquor reached a record level of $734.8 million in calendar year 2009, exceeding last year’s total by $15.7 million or 2.18 percent. (Spirituous liquor is intoxicating liquor containing more than 21 percent alcohol by volume).

“Dollar sales have been increasing for several years, mostly due to increases in product prices, consumers buying premium-priced products, and a rise in the level of consumption,” said Director Zurz. “Other factors that contributed to the increase in dollar sales include better inventory management and product selection, and better management of contract liquor agency locations."

Increased dollar sales, combined with efficient management by the Division of Liquor Control resulted in a record net profit of $224.2 million and an all-time high profit margin of 30.1%. This allowed for a total contribution of more than $299 million to the state’s treasury in Fiscal Year 2009.

Gallonage sales for 2009 also increased to 10.7 million gallons. This was an increase of 191,798 gallons or 1.82 percent over gallonage sales in 2008.

The top ten selling brands of spirituous liquor (by gallons sold) in Ohio for 2009 were the following:

1. Kamchatka Vodka – 400,787 gallons
2. Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey – 345,757 gallons
3. Bacardi Superior Light Rum – 311,763 gallons
4. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum – 286,343 gallons
5. Smirnoff Vodka – 278,951 gallons
6. Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey – 273,648 gallons
7. Jagermeister – 270,787 gallons
8. Absolut Vodka – 262,882 gallons
9. Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey – 244,127 gallons
10. Korski Vodka – 236,942 gallons

Monies collected from the sale of spirituous liquor and the associated tax revenues are used to help fund a variety of state services that benefit all Ohioans.

For Fiscal Year 2009, $163 million of the Division’s total contribution of $299 million was transferred to the state’s General Revenue Fund. An additional $61.2 million in liquor sales revenue was earmarked for other state services such as liquor law enforcement; alcohol treatment, education and prevention programs; the retirement of economic development and Clean Ohio revitalization bonds. Another $69.5 million in state sales and gallonage taxes on spirituous liquor was deposited into the state’s treasury.