It’s summer time and some would love to enjoy their drinks. But the Telangana government is playing spoilsport in the lives of those who enjoy their liquor.
Already the rates of beer have been hiked. About 15% hike was imposed. Now, the Telangana government will be hiking the prices of liquor bottles. A circular was sent to this affect to liquor businesses on Sunday by the excise department.
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The prices of quarter bottle have been increased by Rs 10 and half bottle were increased by Rs 20. The full bottle will cost Rs 40 more. The excise department had taken feedback from liquor shop owners and price committee and submitted a report to the government, a month back.
They estimated that the government will make an additional Rs 2000 crore through price hike. The old agreement with liquor stores will end on June 30. From July 1, the government will enter into a new agreement. The government intends to hike the prices and go into an agreement with distilleries, liquor shops and liquor suppliers.
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Already, the prices of cheap liquor are high in Telangana when compared to neighbouring states. This might lead to the collapse of cheap liquor business in the state. It might also lead to smuggling of NDPL and fake cheap liquor, the excise commission felt and suggested the government not to hike cheap liquor prices.
The idea of selling liquor in tetrapacks is also being considered like in Karnataka. This will mean a hike of Rs 15 to Rs 20, less that the Rs 40 mark. The government is planning to hike prices of three categories of liquor. The government hiked the prices after ensuring that no legal hassles arise later.
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Initially, there was no plan to hike prices. But the government figured out that the neighbouring states had higher prices. Also, an MNC that has a 60% stake in state’s liquor business demanded a hike in the basic rate by 30.1%. The other companies too followed suit. Hence the government took the decision of increasing the prices by 15-19%.
However, the excise department hasn’t made an official announcement so far. As for the consumers, they are disgruntled that the prices are being hiked after a hike in beer prices.
