JOIN USThe beer prices will go up by about 13 per cent as the government has proposed to increase the additional excise duty on it from 122 per cent to 135 per cent.
Prices of other liquor brands will also shoot up as the government has decided to increase the licence fee of Primary Distillery, Indian Liquor Manufacturing Distillery and Brewery by 50 per cent. The licence fee of the MSIL retail liquor shops has been increased from Rs one lakh to Rs three lakh.
Also, the government has decided to increase the fee for shifting of shops from one place to another, from the existing 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the licence fee charged on the licence in respect of such shops.
By mooting such proposals, the State government has again reposed its faith in its second major milch cow, the Excise department. It has set a target of Rs 14,400 crore for the next fiscal year.
A wine shop owner said the beer prices may go up by about Rs 10 to Rs 15 per bottle while other brands too may see the hike due to increase in the licence fee of primary distillery and Indian liquor manufacturing distillery.