(Columbus) -- Rae Ann Estep, Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Liquor Control, announced that sales of spirituous liquor (intoxicating liquor containing more than 21 percent alcohol by volume) in calendar year 1999 reached record levels.

Dollar sales totaled $436.78 million in 1999. This exceeded the previous calendar year record of $424.14 million set in 1981, by $12.64 million or 3.0 percent. Gallonage sales for 1999 totaled 8.29 million gallons.

"The division is pleased to note that the 1999 dollar sales record was achieved with 5.33 million gallons less than the 13.62 million gallons sold during the 1981 calendar year," Superintendent Estep stated. "This amounts to a 39.1 percent reduction in consumption since 1981.

"The main reason for the increase in dollar sales is due to product cost increases by the suppliers over the years," Estep continued. "Also contributing to increased sales is a trend toward the purchase of more premium-priced products."

In comparison to calendar year 1998 sales, 1999 dollar sales increased by $20.84 million (5.0 percent), while 1999 gallonage sales increased by 140,000 gallons (1.7 percent).

The top ten selling brands of spirituous liquor in Ohio for 1999 were:

1. Kamchatka 80 proof Vodka

2. Bacardi Light-Dry Rum

3. Jack Daniels #7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey

4. Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey

5. Absolut 80 proof Vodka

6. Jim Beam Straight Bourbon

7. Korski Vodka

8. Seagrams 7 Crown Blended Whiskey

9. Windsor Supreme Canadian Whiskey

10. Smirnoff No. 21 80 proof Vodka

These same brands have been the top ten sellers in Ohio since 1996. The only change in ranking order from 1998 was the switch between Absolut and Jim Beam in the fifth and sixth positions.

Revenues from the sale of spirituous liquor benefit all Ohioans through the variety of state services they help fund. In fiscal year 1999, $90 million in spirituous liquor sales revenue was transferred to the state's General Revenue Fund, along with $27.3 million that was earmarked for other state services such as alcoholism treatment, education and prevention.

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The Division of Liquor Control is responsible for controlling the manufacture, distribution and sale of all alcoholic beverages in the state. The division sells spirituous liquor through nearly 400 private, contract liquor agencies in the state. Liquor sales and tax revenues are returned to the state's General Revenue Fund, and are also earmarked for a number of other state services including the retirement of economic development bonds and state liquor enforcement. Regulatory functions handled by the division include the issuance of permits to the state's approximately 24,000 privately owned and operated manufacturers, distributors and retailers of alcoholic beverages, and industry compliance of the laws relating to the manufacture, importation and distribution of beer, wine and mixed beverages containing less than 21 percent alcohol by volume in Ohio.

As one of the state's chief regulatory agencies, the Department of Commerce is responsible for numerous regulatory functions carried out by its other divisions of Financial Institutions, Securities, Real Estate, Unclaimed Funds, Industrial Compliance, and State Fire Marshal. The department's internet address is www.com.state.oh.us

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