No cheers! Beer bottle in Chandigarh to get dearer by ₹10 from April 1
While the hike is applicable to a 650 ml bottle, the rates of 330 ml and 500 ml bottle will remain unchanged in Chandigarh
Booze lovers will have to shell out more as Chandigarh administration has hiked the minimum retail price of light and strong beer (650 ml) by ₹10, under the new excise policy for 2022-2023. The rates are applicable from April 1.
The minimum retail price of light beer (per 650 ML bottle) has been increased from ₹90 to ₹100. Similarly, the minimum retail price of strong beer (per 650 ML bottle) has gone up from ₹100 to ₹110.
The administration fixes the minimum price per bottle, and a contractor can fix a price higher than it but not lower. A violation of this can lead to imposition of penalty by the excise and taxation department.
“This financial year, different contractors priced beer at different rates. One group charged ₹100 for a 650ml beer bottle while another group chargedRs130 for it. If such differences continue in the coming fiscal, then the price of beer can vary between ₹110 to ₹150,” said a contractor, requesting anonymity.
Meanwhile, a 330 ml bottle of both strong and light beer will continue to have the minimum retail price of ₹60. Similarly, the government stipulated that the minimum price of light and strong beer can (500 ml) will remain unchanged at ₹80. The price of super-mild beer is ₹60, the same as last year.
Country-liquor minimum retail price also up
The minimum retail price of country liquor has also been increased by ₹10 to ₹25, depending on category. In the coming fiscal, the minimum retail price of country-liquor will range from ₹50 to ₹185. Last year, it was ₹45 to ₹160.
The UT administration, in the excise policy 2022-2023, announced on Friday had hiked the excise duty by 5.5%. It has also introduced e-vehicle cess, which will be levied per bottle varying from ₹2 to ₹40. The cow cess, ranging from ₹5 to ₹10 per bottle, continues from last year.
Giving a boost to night life, 2-hour extension in closure timings, that is up to 3am, has been allowed for restaurants, bars, hotels on payment of additional licence fees. Earlier, these had to shut shop by 1am, and last order was taken an hour before.
The 3-star and 4-star hotels, in addition to existing 5-star hotels, will be allowed to serve liquor 24/7 on payment of additional fees.