DES MOINES – Iowans are apparently drinking more these days.

According to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, sales of liquor, wine and beer increased in the last fiscal year, adding nearly $88 million to the state treasury. That’s up almost 4 percent from the previous year.

“My business remains strong,” said Tom Duax, who owns Central City Liquors in Des Moines.

Even when times get tough, people enjoy a drink, he said.

“People will find a way to have a vodka tonight – that’s the way it works,” Duax said.

The state agency said liquor sales were up more than 6 percent.

Wine sales rose 3 percent, while beer sales, which had been flat for several years, increased by nearly 2 percent.

Iowa’s chief liquor administrator Lynn Walding said liquor sales lagged in May and June, a time when tornadoes and flooding hit the state.

The average adult Iowan drank 37 gallons of beer, almost two of liquor and 1.7 gallons wine over the 12 months ending June 30.

One of the alcoholic beverages that is becoming more popular in Iowa is high-proof beer, which is more than 6.25 percent alcohol compared to 4.5 percent to 5 percent for regular beer.

Doug Alberhasky, manager of John’s Grocery in Iowa City, said more Iowans are buying high-proof products, such as Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, plus beers, such as Duvel, Bell’s and Goose Island.

“We’ve really seen it explode over the past four to five years,” Alberhasky said of the sale of high-proof products.