Alcohol consumption is rising steadily amid the prolonged economic slump. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said on Sunday that the government's liquor tax revenues surpassed W3 trillion for the first time ever last year at W3.23 trillion, up 13.2 percent from the year before (US$1=W1,116).

"The old wisdom that alcohol consumption rises in slow economic times seems to be correct," said a ministry official.

Liquor tax revenues surpassed W1 trillion in 1990 and shot above W2 trillion in 1999, just after the Asian financial crisis. Since 2010, revenues hovered between W2.7 trillion and W2.9 trillion a year.