HYDERABAD: Telangana has once again emerged as the country’s highest alcohol-consuming large state, with nearly one in every two adult men reporting alcohol use, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6). The findings underline the state’s persistent lead over the rest of the country and point to a strong rural consumption pattern that continues to drive the numbers.As many as 43.9% of men aged 15 years and above in Telangana reported consuming alcohol in NFHS-6, more than double the national average of 18.9%. Despite a marginal decline from the previous survey round, Telangana has retained its position at the top among larger states.In NFHS-5, 50% of men aged 15-49 years in Telangana reported consuming alcohol, compared with the national average of 22.4%. While the age groups covered in the two surveys differ, the data indicate that Telangana has consistently remained well above the national average.Among major states, Rajasthan followed Telangana with 42.2% of men reporting alcohol consumption, while Chhattisgarh stood at 38.3%. Telangana’s figure was 1.7 percentage points higher than Rajasthan’s and 5.6 percentage points above Chhattisgarh’s. The gap with the national average was even more striking at 25 percentage points.The survey also highlights a pronounced rural-urban divide within the state. Alcohol consumption was reported by 46.6% of rural men, compared with 36.3% of urban men. The 10.3 percentage-point difference suggests that rural Telangana is the primary driver of the state’s high overall consumption rate.A similar trend is visible among women, although at much lower levels. Telangana recorded alcohol consumption among 7.1% of women aged 15 years and above, sharply higher than the national average of 1.1%. Only Rajasthan, at 19.9%, reported a significantly higher proportion among women, while Chhattisgarh stood at 5.7%.The rural-urban gap among women was even wider. While 8.6% of rural women reported consuming alcohol, the corresponding figure in urban areas was just 2.8%.The NFHS findings come against the backdrop of Telangana’s expanding liquor market. Liquor sales in the state touched around ₹40,209 crore in 2025-26, up from ₹37,487 crore in the previous financial year. Sales volumes also rose, with 382.91 lakh cases sold during 2025-26 compared with 372.25 lakh cases in 2024-25.Excise collections have mirrored this growth. Revenue from liquor sales was reported at about ₹39,368 crore, while total excise collections crossed ₹44,000 crore, highlighting the scale of the state’s alcohol market.While the NFHS data measure the proportion of people who report consuming alcohol rather than the quantity consumed, the survey nevertheless reinforces Telangana’s position as the country’s leading large state in terms of the prevalence of alcohol consumption, particularly in rural areas.
