It is party time for tipplers as with the foray of new players in the liquor trade,there has been a dip in the prices of a couple of brands as compared to the last year. Add to this,pubs and bars are offering freebies such as snacks,ice cubes and water,for which a consumer was being charged till March 31. Premium brand 100 Pipers,which was being sold by contractor at Rs 900 per bottle last fiscal,is now being sold at Rs 640. The government has put Rs 640 cap on the sale of the product. As there were only two major liquor patrons last year Ponty Chadha group and Mann Singh Garcha group,all the vends had pooled rates due to which brands were charging fixed prices. With the venture of new players from other states such as Rajasthan,Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in to the market,the monopoly of the liquor patrons has ended and gave way to free trade. In the same manner,Royal Stag which was available last year at Rs 300 can now be fetched at Rs 260. Peter Scot and Blender's Pride are also available at Rs 370 each. Another brand 8 PM can now be bought at Rs 185 per bottle as compared to Rs 210 last year. The country liquor lovers are on a roll as they can get their favourite bottle at Rs 90,a dip of Rs 20 from the last financial year. However,all the brands are being sold on a par prices fixed by the government and hence contractors are not making any profits which they used to make in the last year. "This year,the government has increased liquor quota by 15 per cent and hence we have no choice but to slash prices so that our entire quota can be consumed," said a liquor contractor on the condition of anonymity. Parampal Singh,Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner,said,"Contractors should not sell their stock below the reserve price set by the government. The idea is to ensure that government rates prevail in the market. It is the contractor's business acumen on how to make profit out of it."
