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Liquor sales down in Floyd County, up in Cerro Gordo

By Chris Baldus, cbaldus@charlescitypress.com

In its annual report for fiscal year 2016, the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division shows that total liquor sales from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 topped $288.9 million with overall revenues surpassing $330.4 million. That’s a 4 percent increase.

Polk County leads the state in gallons sold, recording 1,108,697.55 in 2016, a 4 percent rise despite losing 11 retailers, bringing the total down to 205. But in north-central Iowa, Cerro Gordo County by far and away sells the most gallons of liquor in the region with its sales rising 5 percent between fiscal year 2015 and 2016. It’s ranked 10th in the state with 120,372.8 gallons sold in 2016.

Cerro Gordo County also added four retailers bringing its total to 23. No other area county breaks into double digits in terms or retailers. These figures do not include bars and restaurants.

Bremer County ranks 24 in the state followed by Floyd County at 41, Howard County at 59, Mitchell County 74 and Chickasaw County at 78.

Bremer County’s sales dropped 2.48 percent to 37,489 gallons, as did Howard County by 7 percent to 15,356.57 gallons and Chickasaw County by 3 percent to 8,437.14 gallons.

Floyd County’s sales rose 4.24 percent to 24,262.17. Its number of retailers dropped from seven to six.

Mitchell County, with five retailers, saw a 1.43 percent increase to 9,978.04 gallons.

Liquor sales overall in the state continue to rise. In 2016, sales rose 4 percent to $288, 908,000. In 2016, the total sales were $160,856,000.

The top 10 selling brands in terms of gallons for fiscal 2016 are:

1. Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, 157,190

2. Hawkeye Vodka, 101,837

3. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, 86,487

4. Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, 74,881

5. Five O’Clock Vodka, 60,937

6. Barton Vodka, 54,261

7. Smirnoff Vodka, 46,629

8. McCormick Vodka, 45,909

9. Jack Daniels Old #7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey, 44,387

10. Seagram’s Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey, 40,288

More than $131.1 million was returned to public treasuries, including monies earmarked to the Iowa Department of Public Health for substance abuse and prevention programs, the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Beer and Wine Promotion Board and local governments for their share of alcohol license fees. Over $105.6 million was deposited directly into the Iowa General Fund for legislative appropriation.

“The alcohol beverages industry is thriving in Iowa,” said ABD Administrator Stephen Larson. “We are continuing to do our best to ensure that our stakeholders can succeed while we provide the regulatory framework needed to keep our communities safe and healthy as well as working to revert as much revenue to the General Fund as possible.”

— 20161215 —

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