Gurgaon to raise toast to more pubs

Gurgaon: The Haryana government’s new

excise policy

has paved the way for new pubs in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Manesar, which has recently been brought under a municipal corporation. However,

liquor

prices in the state are likely to increase marginally from May 20 due to a rise in licence fee and ex-distillery price (EDP) duty. This is despite the discontinuation of the Covid cess, which was introduced last year.

The licence fee of country liquor (CL) and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) has been increased by 10%, which is likely to be passed on to the consumer. While the cost of beer has not been hiked, the price of many other kinds of liquor will see an increase between Rs 30 and Rs 70. The licence fee for serving liquor at commercial venues has been reduced by Rs 2,500 and will now cost Rs 5,000.

Deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, who also holds the excise and taxation portfolio, said that his government has decided to do away with Covid cess on the sale of liquor in the new policy, which was passed on Thursday. “Despite the Covid-19 situation, the excise revenue earned during 2020-21 saw a growth of 6.69% and we earned Rs 6,792 crore. So, we no longer felt the need for imposing this cess.”

“In cases where a liquor vend might be closed due to it coming under a containment zone, we have decided to extend the validity of the licence in proportion to the number of days that the outlet has been shut. In case, the vendor does not wish to extend the validity, we will waive off the licence fee,” he added.

With Manesar now coming under the new municipal corporation, licence to sell and serve Indian- and foreign-made liquor can be purchased. Apart from the licence fee, a security deposit of Rs 3 lakh will have to be paid in order to open a new pub in Manesar. New pubs can also be opened in IMT Manesar, IMT Bawal, IMT Rohtak, IT Park Manesar and in areas notified under the Gurgaon-Manesar Urban Complex Plan 2031.

The Haryana government has also decided to allow new pubs to operate in Gurgaon, Faridabad and Panchkula, on payment of an annual licence fee of Rs 10 lakh, in order to promote consumption of low alcohol content.

Excise policy expert Malay Kumar Rout said that with the government increasing the duty charges on EDP in the new excise policy, the liquor production cost will increase slightly. “In order to ensure the entry of professional players in the market, the government has increased the brand label fee for different categories of liquor. The manufacturing cost will also increase due to the hike in EDP duty,” he said.