Wine, beer to become cheaper in city

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 20 

Wine, beer, county liquor and certain brands of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) will cost less from April 1. However, the rates of big IMFL brands will see an increase by up to 12 per cent. The Administration has okayed a marginal increase in the excise duty and licence fee of these brands. 

The UT Administration on Tuesday announced its excise policy for the financial year 2018-19. Under the new policy, issuance of invoice on sale of liquor has been made mandatory for all retail licence holders. 

The policy has been framed to encourage beverages with low alcohol content. 

The UT expects to earn approximately Rs 450 crore in the next fiscal than Rs 354 crore it earned this year. 

The quota of IMFL and country liquor has also been increased this year. The process for allotment of licensing units remains the same, through tenders. 

The number of vends in the UT has been increased from 77 to 93. The security amount  at the time of allotment has been relaxed from 40 per cent to 25 per cent. A new licence has been brought in for the sale of imported wine, Indian wine and imported beer at shops/establishments registered under the GST.

The basic quota of IMFL and country liquor has been fixed at 90 lakh proof litre (PL) and 10 lakh PL, respectively. 

The Administration has also introduced a cess of Rs 2 per bulk litre (PBL) on wholesale licence. The cess received will be given to the Indian Red Cross Society, Chandigarh branch. 

Extra licence fee and the excise duty on wine have been reduced from Rs 20 PBL to Rs 15 PBL. Beer will become cheaper as extra licence fee has been nominally increased from Rs 20 to Rs 22 PBL. There is no increase in the minimum retail sale price of beer in the city.