Booze Prices On The Rise In Karnataka As Excise Duty On Liquor Is Increased by 8%

Booze drinkers that nightcap is going to be a bit more expensive post the Karnataka Budget implementation for 2018-2019 as Excise duty on liquor has been increased by 8%, making a bottle of your favorite liquor that much more expensive.

“I propose to increase the existing rates of additional excise duty on IMFL by eight per cent from second slab to 18th slab,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said presenting the budget in the legislative assembly.

He said due to the Supreme Court Order regarding location of shops on highways, during July, August and September, more than 3,000 excise licenses were affected and were not renewed and closed.

“The apex court order was implemented and such non-renewed and closed licences were renewed in the subsequent months. For this reason, we expect to mobilise revenue of Rs 176 billion crore for the current financial year,” he said.

The government in the last budget too, had increased the additional excise duty on liquor to 21 per cent from 18 per cent, while abolishing VAT of 5.5 per cent on beer, wine and hard liquors, which led to an increase in the price of liquor between four per cent and 12 per cent.