The Hindu

MANGALORE, Apr 4: Liquor shops here have started charging the increased rates, even as the proposal made by the State Government to hike the additional excise duty on liquor on all slabs awaits approval by the State Excise Commissioner. The revised list, after formal approval, will have to be communicated to the Karnataka State Breweries Corporation Ltd.

A few retail wine shops near Hampanakatta Circle have displayed the proposed rates and are keeping a copy of the same on their cash desks.

As per the proposed revision, a bottle of Royal Stag Whisky will cost Rs. 382 against the ruling Rs. 310. N.M. Hussain, Deputy Commissioner (Excise), told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the revised rate was awaited. “The Government has issued a notification. But, we have not yet received it,” he said.

The Excise Department had no direct control over retail sales as it was handled by the corporation. The department could take action against retailers if they sold the liquor at a price over and above the maximum retail price, he said. Shubhakar Ajiri, depot manager of KSBCL here, said: “The corporation is awaiting the revised rates from the Excise Commissioner. Once the revised rates are communicated to us, we will sell accordingly to the retailers.”

According to him the retailers were not authorised to sell their old stocks at new rates even after the rates were increased. Unlike petroleum products, liquor should be sold at the rate at which it was procured from the KSBCL depot, he said.

As per the proposal, a consumer would be paying Rs. 6 more for a quarter (180 ml), Rs. 15 for half-a-bottle (375 ml) and Rs. 30 more for a full bottle (750 ml), an official of the corporation in Bangalore said. Mr. Ajiri said that bars were not restricted from charging extra.