Liquor prices to go up in Haryana, new Excise Policy announced

Chandigarh, Feb 21 (PTI) Country liquor, India-madeforeign liquor and beer will be dearer from April in Haryanaas excise duty on them will be marginally increased in the newexcise policy.

The state government expects to mop up Rs 2,500 crorehike in in the next financial year as compared to expectedcollection of Rs 2,250 crore in the current fiscal.

From April 1, country liquor per litre would cost Rs 11 alitre, beer would be priced at Rs 20 from the earlier Rs 18 abottle, India-made foreign liquor(IMFL) at Rs 37 from Rs 35 alitre, while scotch will be more expensive by Rs 22 and Rs 12per litre depending upon the price.

While minimum retail sale price of liquor has beenmarginally increased and rationalised, concessional rate ofexcise duty for army canteens will remain unchanged.

Under the the Excise Policy 2011-12, which was approved bythe state cabinet today, the total number of vends will be3,500, out of which 2,265 will be country liquor vends and1,235 IMFL vends. The quota of country liquor will be 900 lakhproof litre and of IMFL 500 lakh proof litre.

The mandatory quota of country liquor, distributedequally among the distilleries of the state, has been reducedfrom 50 per cent to 45 per cent, according to an officialspokesperson.

He said the Haryana Government has decided not to raisethe quota of country liquor and IMFL and has also kept themaximum number of retail outlets at the same level as in thecurrent year.

To improve transparency and fair play, CCTV cameras willbe installed in all the distilleries and breweries of thestate and sampling process will be recorded in video.

Pub licenses will be given in the cities of Gurgaon,Panchkula and Faridabad, and all the licensed bars will bepermitted to purchase draught beer in kegs from wholesaledepot (L-1B1) itself.

The allotment of vends, as per the policy, will be doneby inviting sealed tenders for all the vends individually andseparately. There will be reservation of 10 per cent and 5per cent for Scheduled Caste and Backward Class (A) categoriesrespectively.

For the prospective licensees, there would be no increasein the Ex-Distillery Issue Price (EDP) of country liquor andwholesale license of country liquor (L-13) will be granted toretail licensees as in the case of wholesale license of IMFL(L-1).