Haryana Govt announces new excise policy

CHANDIGARH: Under the new excise policy of the Haryana government, the possession limit for the defence personnel and ex-servicemen has been increased from the existing six bottles per person to the specified quota in the Army order, which is 18 bottles.
The excise policy for the year 2004-05, which was approved by the state cabinet on Friday, has also done away with integrated quota system.And the quota for the next year has been fixed at 425 lakh proof litre and 175 lakh proof litre for country liquor(CL) and Indian Made Foreign Liquor(IMFL), respectively, with a facility to get up to 10 per cent of the CL quota convertible to that of IMFL.
Besides, quota of lifting has been been fixed at 25 per cent, 20 per cent, 30 per cent and 25 per cent for the four quarters of the year.
In addition, the restriction of one "ahata" for 10 liquor vends has been lifted. It also provides for sale of liquor in pouches in addition to the sale in glasses and pet bottles, for illicit and smuggling prone areas of the state to be notified by the excise commissioner.
The bars can now sell medium range of IMFL along with Bacardi, Rum, Vodka etc., a facility which was withdrawn in the last policy. Besides, a new category of bar licence has been added with an enhanced licence fee of Rs 10 lakh where imported foreign liquor can also be served. This has been done keeping in view the fast changing corporate culture in Gurgaon and other places around Delhi and Panchkula.
The label fee has also been reduced to encourage the availability of greater variety in the market. Keeping in view the enhanced economic status of rural folks, the sale of IMFL has been permitted at rural vends. Besides, the export fee has been marginally increased and the licence fee of distilleries, breweries and wholesale liquor vends has been increased.