Mississippi sees increase in alcohol sales during pandemic

Published 8:25 am Monday, June 15, 2020

JACKSON (AP) — Alcohol sales in Mississippi are seeing a big jump during the coronavirus pandemic, the state Department of Revenue says.

“Since March 16, we have shipped 932,120 cases, which represents an increase of 140,785 cases over last year,” the department’s division of Alcoholic Beverage Control said in a social media post last week.

Numbers reported by the agency include sales to some casinos and restaurants, said Department of Revenue spokesman Jacob Manley.

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Most of the increase is sales at liquor stores, Manley said.

Officials wrote in the social media post that the state agency is shipping at capacity every night. Crews are working to reduce a backlog of requests at the state warehouse that supplies wine and alcohol for liquor stores, restaurants and casinos.

“It will take longer than usual to receive your order,” the agency said. “We ask for your patience as we work to get your orders out.”