Excise policy to take fizz out of beer in Gurugram

Come June, beer is set to get costlier as the state will implement the new excise policy. With the aim to increase revenue, the policy has proposed an increase in excise duty, which will hike the MRP of various brands.

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The commonly consumed beer brands, such as Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Budweiser, Heineken, and Tuborg will see a surge in their minimum sale price. Sold for Rs 90 for 330ml, these will now be sold for Rs 150.

Other imported beers like Amstel and Corona, with a minimum sale price of Rs 200, will now cost Rs 290.

An increase of around Rs 150 per bottle will also be witnessed in the prices of imported liquor like Absolut vodka.

“The price hike of beer is a concern as it is a high-volume product, especially during summer. Gurugram is the booze heaven of NCR and probably has the maximum sale of beer in the entire region. Any surge in price will impact sales, and eventually, revenue. People will cut down on purchase,” said an LI owner, Rajiv Kumar.

“Beer is a grocery staple in a city like Gurugram. It is a daily commodity for corporate, and the surge will impact pockets. The government needs to be more liberal with such things,” said Poorva Chowdhary, a senior consultant in an American bank.