Telangana: Hic! New Year revelry to cost tipplers dear as liquor prices hiked in

HYDERABAD: Just days ahead of Christmas and New Year revelries, Telangana government has decided to burn a hole in tipplers’ pockets by charging more on scotch whisky and other liquor brands. The revised liquor rates will come into effect from Tuesday. From a low of Rs 10 on each 60ML bottle to a high of Rs 440 on a 2,000 ML scotch bottle, liquor lovers will have to pay extra.


Highly placed sources said the government was expecting to mop up an additional revenue of Rs 400 crore from the increase in liquor prices. A hike in liquor prices was last made one-and-a-half years ago. But that was nominal as only Rs 5 extra was charged on all liquor bottles and brands.

Beer guzzlers are also not spared as they would have to cough up Rs 20 more on each 750ML bottle and Rs 10 more on lesser quantity bottle. For buying rum,

vodka

or other liquor, consumers would have to shell out Rs 220 more on a 2,000 ML bottle and Rs 80 on a 750 ML bottle.

Highest price hike on liquor since T formation

Market experts said Tuesday’s new rate mechanism would be the highest-ever price hike since the formation of Telangana in June 2014. “Premium s cotch and other liquor brands could be out of reach for liquor lovers if shop owners and traders come to an understanding and sell them over and above the new MRP,” an industry observer pointed out.

The government, which generates close to Rs 20,000 crore revenue from liquor sales, is set to uncork a new booze sales record, sources said. The only state that generates more than Rs 20,000 crore revenue through liquor sales is Tamil Nadu.

When asked, a liquor shop owner said: “We are not going to get any extra benefit. The excise department is going to be richer.”

Market analysts said till now liquor price in Telangana were lower when compared to neighbouring AP, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. “Now the new rates would be almost equal or more than the prevailing rate in these states,” a source said.

The excise department has asked liquor shop owners to exhaust the stocks which have old MRP at the old price only. Liquor depots on Monday also stopped issuing liquor bottles to shops.