Implementing the Excise Policy 2022-23, the Punjab government has allowed the sale of beer and an unlimited quota of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and the move is expected to bring down the prices of liquor by 35-60 per cent with effect from July. hopefully. 1. Further, after the new policy, the state is expected to receive a total revenue of Rs 9,647.85 crore in the current fiscal as compared to Rs 6,158 crore in 2021-22. Here’s what you need to know about the state’s new excise policy:
Features of Punjab’s New Excise Policy
Distillers, liquor distributors and retailers have been de-linked under the Excise Policy 2022-23. Earlier all of them were involved in the retail business of liquor. In case of country liquor, each distiller shall appoint a distributor. Similarly, all other manufacturers will have a distributor, who will then supply alcohol to all the retailers. The ban on opening of new distilleries in the state has also been lifted.
The policy generates revenue through license fee, which is received through e-tendering/auction. Cow cess and special license fee have also been subsumed in the license fee. Excise duty on IMFL, beer and imported foreign liquor (IFL) has been kept at 1 percent. To discourage illegal distillation from Lahan, the government will introduce 40 degree PML, which will be white in color and sold in 180 ml food-grade plastic pouches.
Will liquor prices fall?
Liquor prices in Punjab will now be 10-15 per cent lower than in Haryana. The price of beer in Chandigarh will be between Rs 120 to Rs 130 per bottle as against Rs 120 to Rs 150 per bottle. At present, the rate of beer in Punjab is Rs 180 to Rs 200 per bottle. IMFL’s most consumed brand will now cost Rs 400 in Punjab, while it is Rs 510 in Chandigarh. According to a report in The Tribune, currently, the bottle is available in Punjab for Rs 700.
The lower prices will help in curbing smuggling of illicit liquor from Haryana and Chandigarh to Punjab. The Punjab government is expected to increase excise revenue by 40 per cent due to curbs on smuggling.
What does the Punjab government say
Excise commissioner Varun Roojam, as quoted by The Tribune report, said, “We have made several structural changes, but there are many checks and balances in the policy to ensure that smuggling into and from the state is prevented. Though the quota is open for both IMFL and beer, the Excise Commissioner will have overriding powers to check the excess lifting of the liquor quota and demand will be continuously assessed.
The enforcement wing of the department is being strengthened to check adulteration of liquor, smuggling and opening of illegal distilleries. For this, two additional battalions of police are being allotted to the department, Roojam said.
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