Liquor prices marginally up, cost of beer, wine unchanged

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 1

While the rates of wine and beer remained unchanged, the prices of a majority of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) brands increased from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per bottle as the new excise policy of the UT came into force on Sunday.

The Administration had completed the process for the allotment of vends in the city and their owners on Sunday started selling the liquor at new rates. The rates of bigger IMFL brands have increased more.

The prices of almost all IMFL brands have witnessed a hike from 10 to 12 per cent as the Administration enhanced the excise duty and extra license fees marginally on such brands. A bottle of the Royal Stag is now available for Rs 380 against the price of Rs 360 on which was sold till Saturday. Likewise, the rates of Blenders Pride jumped from Rs 580 to Rs 600 and those of Signature Premium from Rs 620 to Rs 640.

The owner of a vend said the rates of wine and beer were not enhanced as the Department of Excise and Taxation reduced the extra licence fee and excise duty from Rs 20 PBL to Rs 15 PBL on these items.

The quota of IMFL and country liquor has also been increased this year. The department has sold 78 out of 93 vends at auction this year.