DUBUQUE: Revenue from alcohol sales in Iowa climbed about 5.5 percent in the last fiscal year to nearly $320 million, according to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.
Liquor sales revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30 to the state was about $208 million, the Dubuque Telegraph Herald reported this week. Another $14.5 million was raised through the state’s beer tax and $7.8 million from the state’s wine tax. The rest of the revenue was generated by fees and other charges.
Per capita liquor sales were highest in Dickinson County, which, as home to Lake Okoboji, is a tourist destination that likely leads to increased liquor sales. The northwest Iowa county had per capita sales of 6.33 gallons.
Fremont County, in southwest Iowa, had the lowest sales, at 0.06 gallons per capita.
The total amount of beer sold dropped slightly but sales of beers brewed in Iowa rose by 17.1 percent to 560,570 gallons.
