Iowans bought a lot more booze in the past year than they have in a long time. Officials at the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division say sales for the just-ended fiscal year were over 105-million dollars, that’s up from about 98-million last year.Denny Mitcham, the Division’s Bureau Chief, says it’s the first time since 1987 that alcohol sales topped 100-million dollars. He attributes the boost to the thriving economy, enabling people to buy higher quality beverages. Buying tequila is becoming more expensive though, as Mitcham says prices are bouncing 20 to 30-percent for that clear liquor.Mitcham says tequila is made using fluid from the blue agave plant in Mexico, which was heavily damaged by frost.Some tequila price increases may be even higher, jumping from 9-dollars a bottle a year ago to 17-dollars this month.
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