Contractors slash beer prices

Apart from this,even country liquor can be seen being sold at Rs 140 at select vends while a few others are also selling it in the range of Rs 150-170. The excise department,however,has stated that Rs 127 is the minimum price of country liquor.

Blender’s Pride is available for Rs 630 at a few vends while the ones on Ferozepur Road,Sarabha Nagar are selling it at Rs 735. The fixed minimum price is Rs 610. Royal Stag is available for Rs 390 which was slashed from Rs 460. The excise department’s minimum price is Rs 376. McDowell’s price has been slashed to Rs 330 against Rs 385 of many other liquor vends while the excise department’s minimum price is Rs 308 only.

The other imported brands such as 100 Piper,Black Dog and Black Dog Deluxe are also priced competitively by many liquor vends. Big banners and electronic display boards can also be seen outside the shops on Pakhowal road to display the new price list.

Charanjeet Bajaj,the liquor contractor who slashed the prices drastically,said,“We have kept the prices competitive. We have reduced our profit margins and even at these prices we are earning good income,so there is no need to hike the prices exorbitantly.” Bajaj has 18 vends in the city.

The Singla group has not slashed prices at all its liquor vends,but only a few which are near the locations of Bajaj’s. The Singla group has more than 30 vends in the city.

The excise department has clarified that the liquor vends were free to keep their own prices. The price cannot be lower than the set limit. However,for upper limit,there is no check by the department.