New excise policy could reduce beer, wine prices in Chandigarh
The UT administration’s excise policy for 2017-18 is in its final stages of preparation and is expected to be released by the weekend. Apart from proposing the abolition of the quota system, the auction of vends might also be replaced by a lottery system.
The UT administration’s excise policy for 2017-18 is in its final stages of preparation and is expected to be released by the weekend. Apart from proposing the abolition of the quota system, the auction of vends might also be replaced by a lottery system.
A quota is the minimum guaranteed quantity that the vendors must procure from the state. Officials claim that rates of hard drinks (with alcohol content on the higher side, between 35 and 50%) such as whisky, gin, vodka are likely to be increased.
The rates of other drinks with lower alcohol content — wine, beer — are likely to be reduced.
Interestingly, the consumption of hard liquor is said to be more in comparison to light alcohol drinks in Chandigarh.
The ex-distillery price (EDP) in Chandigarh is the least as compared to Punjab and Haryana.
“We want to encourage the sale of liquor with low alcohol content by pricing it low. This will also boost tourism and people could move to lower alcohol content drinks due to the pricing,” an official with the UT administration said.
The new policy is also expected to increase revenue by 15-20 percent.
