Ohio liquor sales increase during coronavirus pandemic

Ohio has seen an increase in the amount of liquor during the coronavirus pandemic, with its biggest jump in March.

More than 1,450,000 gallons of liquor were sold in March, a 26% increase from February, according to data from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Liquor Control.

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March’s sales were also up 22% from March 2019.

Sales in both March and February this year were higher than their respective months in 2019, but this January saw less than a 1% decrease from January 2019.

On March 15, Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton issued an order closing bars and restaurants to in-house patrons.

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Though it is not clear if the order is behind the increase in sales, liquor stores in the Miami Valley saw an immediate jump in customers.

Hours after DeWine announced the order in March, the line at Arrow Wine & Spirits on Far Hills Avenue in Kettering stretched from the cash registers to the back of the store.

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