Liquor to be costlier in Punjab

Liquor will be marginally costlier in Punjab from the coming financial year. The excise policy of 2010-11 cleared by the state cabinet today gave the nod to increase the rates of country-made liquor by Rs5 a bottle and of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) by Rs10 a bottle across all brands.

The policy states that the power to renew licences of bars, clubs and pubs, which was with the state's financial commissioner (excise and taxation) so far, would vest with the deputy excise and taxation commissioner of the division concerned. Owners of bars and pubs will not have to visit Chandigarh for this work any more.

"The quota of country-made liquor has been increased by 15%, raising it to 804 lakh proof litre as opposed to the 900 lakh proof litre quota of Haryana," an official spokesman said.

The quota for IMFL remains unchanged.

Justifying the increase in quota, the excise department said it had tried to rationalise duties, levies, and application fees. It had also undertaken a detailed exercise to re-determine the vend-wise potential for sale of each vend depending on actual sales in 2009-10.