Gujarat govt revises liquor rates to streamline seizure valuation

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat govt has revised liquor prices across domestic and imported brands. A notification issued by the state home department standardises maximum retail prices (MRPs) for spirits, beer and wine sold through authorised channels such as permit rooms, hotels and clubs.Sources said the revision was part of a periodic exercise, but its significance extends beyond pricing. Officials indicated that the updated list would serve as the official benchmark for valuing liquor seized in prohibition cases, ensuring uniformity across the state.Under a 2023 home department resolution, Gujarat introduced a standardised system to assess the value of confiscated liquor. The prohibition and excise department compiles annual, brand-wise price data, which is shared with police units. Enforcement agencies then use these notified rates to calculate the value of stock seized from bootleggers or during smuggling.Sources said the updated list will help eliminate discrepancies in valuation across districts and bring consistency to investigations involving the illegal import and sale of liquor.The pricing continues to be anchored in a duty framework laid down under a 2018 gazette notification issued by the state govt, which prescribes excise rates based on alcohol content and category, along with additional levies.