July 11, 2012--In May, alcohol sales at Austin-area bars, hotels and restaurants were up nearly 25 percent compared with the same month a year earlier, according to data from the Texas comptroller's office.

An American-Statesman analysis shows beer, cocktail and wine purchases totaled approximately $50 million in May, or $9 million more than in May 2011.

That $50 million total works out to an average of about $1.6 million worth of alcohol sold in the city per day.

The alcohol sales netted $7 million in mixed beverage taxes for the state.

The 78701 ZIP code, which covers most of downtown Austin, accounted for more than a third of May's total; sales there were nearly $19 million.

The W Austin Hotel, 200 Lavaca St., once again topped the list among individual venues, reporting purchases totaling an estimated $449,000.

Barton Creek Resort, 8212 Barton Club Drive, was No. 2, selling $422,000 worth of alcohol, followed by $378,000 for the Four Seasons Hotel Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd.

The rest of the top 10 list includes: the Oasis, 6550 Comanche Trail; Chupacabra Cantina, 400 E. Sixth St.; the Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St.; Kung Fu Saloon, 510 Rio Grande St.; Blind Pig Pub, 317 E. Sixth St; Hula Hut, 3826 Lake Austin Blvd.; and the Park at the Domain, 11601 Domain Drive.

May marked the first time the Park at the Domain made the top 10.

The latest comptroller's report also includes updated figures for nine bars -- Fuel, Hyde, Kiss & Fly, Malaia, Pure, Roial, Spill, Stack Burger Bar and Treasure Island -- that were owned by Yassine Enterprises.

They've been closed since late March, when owner and President Mike Yassine was jailed -- along with eight associates -- on federal drug, money laundering and weapons charges.

The latest estimates show that, during March, Pure was the highest-grossing Yassine nightclub, with a reported $298,000 in beer, cocktail and wine purchases. Kiss & Fly was next, coming in at $277,000.

Across the state, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa ranked No. 1 in May, reporting alcohol sales of nearly $1.7 million.

Contact Gary Dinges at 912-5987; Twitter: @gdinges

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