Punjab excise policy: Imported booze gets cheaper, no hike in country liquor price

Justifying the cut in IFL rates, a senior government official, said, “It was felt that the IFL is consumed at weddings and at other celebrations, but it was being smuggled from Haryana and Chandigarh, where it is cheaper than Punjab. This segment had been troubling us. Now, we have rationalised the fee structure by bringing about changes in the price-determining formula”.

A bottle of IFL is likely to go cheaper by Rs 100-200, the official said, adding that no change has been effected in the prices of country made liquor as it was a mass segment catering to rural masses and generates big revenue. Punjab already allows unlimited liquor quota, and the AAP government, while announcing its first excise policy in 2022, had made the Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor cheaper than Chandigarh and Haryana.

To mobilise additional revenue and ensure enough availability, the quota of country liquor (Punjab Medium Liquor or PML) in the financial year 2024-25 has been increased by 3 per cent, which is 8.286 crore proof litre, over the last year.

Minister Cheema said that the new policy envisages allotment of liquor vends through a draw of lots.

Instead of 172 groups, 232 have been formed this time, he said, adding “The group size has been decreased and kept at Rs 35 crore with 15 per cent variation. This has been done to accommodate those traders, who have been crying that they were left out”.