Latest news with #ImportedForeignLiquor
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Beer Lovers Beware! Prices set to rise by up to 55% under new Haryana excise policy from THIS date
Beer lovers pay attention! In less than a month, beer prices in Haryana are rising, and in a sharp uptick. Come June 12, beer lovers in Haryana will have to pay a significantly more price if they want to drink the alcoholic beverage. The Haryana new excise policy brings a 55 per cent hike in Indian beer prices, according to a report by The Hindustan Times. For imported beers, the prices are going to rise by 45 per cent, as per the report. Meanwhile, the cost of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Foreign Liquor (IFL) will rise by 15-20 per cent under the new excise policy. Livemint could not independently verify the details of the report. The new Haryana Excise Policy 2025-2027, set to be implemented on June 12, will see the prices of popular beer brands including Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Budweiser, and Hoegaarden rise sharply. Following the implementation of the new Haryana Excise Policy, the price of a 650ml bottle of Kingfisher Ultra will rise from ₹ 90 to ₹ 140. Imported beers such as Corona and Amstel, a pint of which costs ₹ 200, is set to increase to ₹ 290. Meanwhile, a 330 ml bottle of beers like Budweiser and Carlsberg will go up to ₹ 120 from ₹ 75, HT reported quoting officials. For a canned beer of 500 ml, which is currently priced at ₹ 90, the cost will go up by 45 per cent to ₹ 130. For alcohols like Absolut Vodka, the prices will increase from ₹ 1,200 for a 750ml bottle to ₹ 1,500. Meanwhile, a bottle of Glenlivet will jump from ₹ 3,200 to ₹ 3,800. Gurugram (West) deputy excise and taxation commissioner confirmed the development to Hindustan Times. 'Yes, there will be a 55 per cent hike on Indian beers and 45 per cent on imported ones. This is primarily to bring parity with neighbouring states and to promote Indian-made beer and liquor over imported alternatives,' the official was quoted as saying by the newspaper. He said that the excise department will focus on optimising revenue earned through alcohol sales. 'The excise department is also focusing on optimising revenue through fair pricing while reducing the consumption of foreign-labelled liquor,' Dudi said. 'With the increased license fee, it will be easier to achieve the targets,' he added.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Punjabi tipplers graduating to foreign liquor, sales jump 10-fold in four years
More and more people in Punjab are now opting for Imported Foreign Liquor (IFL), data available with with the state's excise and taxation department has revealed. Approximately 2.5 lakh cases of IFL were sold in Punjab in the 2024-25 fiscal ending March 31, as compared to 1 lakh cases sold in 2022-23, and only 20,000 cases in 2021-22. 'Punjabi tipplers have gradually graduated to the IFL. However, the sale of Punjab Medium Liquor (PML) was recorded to be 32 times more than IFL. As many as 80 lakh cases of PML were sold in the 2024-25 fiscal,' an excise department official said. In its liquor policy formulated for the state last year, the Punjab government had reduced the prices of IFL and there was no change in the prices of PML. Buoyed by the increase in demand, the government, in the excise policy for the current fiscal, made Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Foreign Liquor (IFL) costlier, targeting to collect Rs 11,020 crore in revenue — a sharp rise of Rs 875 crore over last fiscal. 'Every bottle of IFL cost lesser last year. It was felt that the IFL was consumed by Punjabis at weddings and other celebratory parties. But a large quantity was being smuggled in from Haryana and Chandigarh, where it was cheaper than Punjab. This segment was troubling us. We rationalised the fee structure by bringing about changes in the price-determining formula. This has paid dividends and the volume of sales has risen,' the official said. This year's policy has made IMFL costlier by Rs 10-20 per bottle, while the IFL has seen a marginal increase in prices. The price of Punjab Medium Liquor (PML) or country-made liquor and beer has not been changed. The government, another excise department official, said did not hike the prices of country made liquor as it is a segment catering to rural masses and is a major revenue generator. This official too said that residents of the state were graduating from country made liquor to IFL. 'The transition has started but still the country made liquor sells the most. In fact, all segments are growing. Every year, we see 7-8 per cent growth in the trade as more youths are added to the list of tipplers,' he said. Punjab was already giving a tough time to Chandigarh having made the quota of liquor unlimited, and IMFL and country made liquor cheaper than neighbouring Haryana and the joint Capital, in its first policy after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government took over the reins of the state. Now, to make dividends, the government has increased quota of country made liquor by 3 per cent. — from 8.286 crore proof litres in 2024-25 to 8.534 crore proof litres in 2025-26. After the IFL, the government is now looking at selling more beer and has reduced the license fee for the beer shops considerably. It will be Rs 25,000 next fiscal, a sharp decline from Rs 2 lakh per shop last fiscal. A source in the government said that last year only 25 new shops were set up across the state.
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Beer prices in Haryana to soar under 2025- 2027 excise policy
Come June 12, beer lovers across Haryana will be paying significantly more for their drink, as the state's new excise policy brings a 55% hike in Indian beer prices and a 45% increase for imported ones. As consumers brace for the price surge, many are now considering switching to lower-cost alternatives—or buying in bulk before the hike hits. But with excise duty enforcement tightening, the window may not stay open for long. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo) Popular domestic labels like Kingfisher, Carlsberg, Budweiser, and Hoegaarden will see sharp price revisions. A 650ml bottle of Kingfisher Ultra, currently retailing at ₹ 90, will now cost ₹ 140. Beers such as Corona and Amstel, previously priced at ₹ 200 for a pint, will rise to ₹ 290, while Tiger beer is expected to follow suit. A 330 ml beer bottle of Budweiser and Carlsberg will cost ₹ 120 that used to cost ₹ 75, said officials. Canned Beer that costed ₹ 90 has been increased to ₹ 130 (45%) for 500 ml can). Excise officials said that the cost of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Foreign Liquor (IFL) is set to rise by 15-20% under the new policy. They cited examples such as Absolute Vodka, which is will increase from ₹ 1,200 to ₹ 1,500, and Glenlivet, will jump from ₹ 3,200 to ₹ 3,800. Jitender Dudi, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, Gurugram (West), confirmed the increase. 'Yes, there will be a 55% hike on Indian beers and 45% on imported ones. This is primarily to bring parity with neighbouring states and to promote Indian-made beer and liquor over imported alternatives,' he said. 'The excise department is also focusing on optimising revenue through fair pricing while reducing the consumption of foreign-labelled liquor.' Officials said that this would increase government's revenue collection. The Haryana government has set a revenue target of ₹ 14,064 crore for FY 2025–27 under its new excise policy. In the last 2024–25, the department surpassed expectations, collecting ₹ 12,700 crore against a target of ₹ 12,650 crore. Officials credited the achievement to improved enforcement, policy stability, and a rise in legal consumption. The 2025–27 excise policy aims to build on this momentum with reforms in liquor quota, duty structure, and stricter compliance enforcement. 'With the increased license fee, it will be easier to achieve the targets,' said Dudi. The sharp rise has left both consumers and liquor vendors unsettled. Nitin Malik, a corporate executive and regular beer drinker in Sector 29, said, 'This kind of jump is too steep. ₹ 140 for a local beer that used to cost ₹ 90 makes it unaffordable for the middle class. We are not buying luxury items—we are talking about a casual beverage.' Vishu Arora, a consumer, had similar sentiments. 'Imported beer lovers are already paying a premium. With this increase, enjoying a chilled Corona or Hoegaarden with friends on weekends will become a luxury,' he said. Liquor shop owners said they are equally concerned about the impact on their margins and customer base. 'We have been informed that our investment per zone will rise by 20-30% under the new policy. With beer prices going up so much, footfall is bound to drop,' said Sandeep Yadav, one of the vend partner. Another retailer, Vinod Yadav, who runs a shop near Sohna Road, said, 'Margins will shrink, and we may lose regular buyers. Already, sales dip in summer if prices are hiked. We will now have to rework stock planning.' Rahul Singh, CEO, of the Beer Cafe chain said the proposed hike in beer prices will be a sharp jolt for both consumers and the hospitality industry. 'While we understand the state's intent to align pricing with neighbouring regions and enhance revenue, the timing—coinciding with peak summer beer demand—is concerning. Globally, progressive alcohol policies encourage a shift from hard spirits to lower-alcohol beverages like beer, recognising their role in promoting moderation and social responsibility. Such a steep increase in beer prices may inadvertently reverse this trend, pushing consumers toward higher-alcohol or unregulated alternatives,' he said The new policy, approved by the Haryana Cabinet on Monday, is part of a broader excise revamp aimed at boosting state revenue, reducing unregulated drinking, and curbing illegal tavern operations. While it also brings structural reforms in tavern licensing, advertising restrictions, and distance norms from sensitive sites, the immediate consumer impact will be felt most acutely in the beer aisle. With the peak summer season underway and soaring temperatures making beer the beverage of choice, vendors expect a consumer backlash. 'June is when beer demand hits its peak. This move could flatten our sales just when the season is booming,' said Yadav. As consumers brace for the price surge, many are now considering switching to lower-cost alternatives—or buying in bulk before the hike hits. But with excise duty enforcement tightening, the window may not stay open for long.
