Liquor prices to go up in Haryana,new Excise Policy announced

From April 1,country liquor per litre would cost Rs 11 a litre,beer would be priced at Rs 20 from the earlier Rs 18 a bottle,India-made foreign liquor(IMFL) at Rs 37 from Rs 35 a litre,while scotch will be more expensive by Rs 22 and Rs 12 per litre depending upon the price.

While minimum retail sale price of liquor has been marginally increased and rationalised,concessional rate of excise duty for army canteens will remain unchanged.

Under the the Excise Policy 2011-12,which was approved by the state cabinet today,the total number of vends will be 3,500,out of which 2,265 will be country liquor vends and 1,235 IMFL vends. The quota of country liquor will be 900 lakh proof litre and of IMFL 500 lakh proof litre.

The mandatory quota of country liquor,distributed equally among the distilleries of the state,has been reduced from 50 per cent to 45 per cent,according to an official spokesperson.

He said the Haryana Government has decided not to raise the quota of country liquor and IMFL and has also kept the maximum number of retail outlets at the same level as in the current year.

To improve transparency and fair play,CCTV cameras will be installed in all the distilleries and breweries of the state and sampling process will be recorded in video.

Pub licenses will be given in the cities of Gurgaon,Panchkula and Faridabad,and all the licensed bars will be permitted to purchase draught beer in kegs from wholesale depot (L-1B1) itself.

The allotment of vends,as per the policy,will be done by inviting sealed tenders for all the vends individually and separately. There will be reservation of 10 per cent and 5 per cent for Scheduled Caste and Backward Class (A) categories respectively.

For the prospective licensees,there would be no increase in the Ex-Distillery Issue Price (EDP) of country liquor and wholesale license of country liquor (L-13) will be granted to retail licensees as in the case of wholesale license of IMFL (L-1).