Alcohol to cost 17-25 % more in Karnataka
Day 3 sales rake in bumper Rs 231 crore
BENGALURU:
Two dayS after allowing liquor sales in Karnataka following the easing of lockdown rules, the Yediyurappa government has hiked the excise duty on liquor by 11 per cent. This is in addition to the six per cent increase that was announced in the budget.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said, “The hike will come into effect in a few days as labelling and other procedures will require some time.”
The special 11 per cent ‘COVID-19 fees’ together with the budgetary 6 per cent hike takes the total excise duty on liquor to 17 per cent.
As a result, in the under-Rs 499 category (the declared price per carton box), the additional excise duty will rise to Rs 245 per bulk litre. For Indian-made liquor priced at over ₹15,000 per carton box, the additional excise duty will increase to Rs 4,465 per bulk litre.
The excise duty ranges between 17 per cent and 25 per cent depending on the slabs. For the category below Rs 559 the hike is 17 per cent per bulk litre, for the category of Rs 600-Rs 1,199 the hike is 21 per cent, and for Rs 1,200-Rs 15,000 and above the hike will be 25 per cent.
Sales through the roof
According to top Excise Department officials, 39 lakh litres of Indian-made liquor worth Rs 216 crore and 7 lakh litres of beer worth Rs 15.6 crore was sold on Wednesday for a total collection of Rs 231 crore.
On Tuesday, Rs 197 crore worth liquor was sold while on Monday, when sales resumed in the state, Rs 45 crore worth liquor was sold.
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