AP Hikes Liquor Price by ₹10 on MRP per Bottle

Vijayawada:The Andhra Pradesh government has hiked the cost of IMFL and Foreign Liquor at Rs 10 per bottle on maximum retail price across all sizes in the state with immediate effect.

Revenue (excise) principal secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena issued GO MS 22 here on Monday.

Accordingly, the MRP on liquor has been revised upwards by Rs 10 on IMFL and FL per bottle for all sizes except in respect of IMFL with MRP of `99 (180 ml), beer, wine and RTD (ready to drink).

The government enhanced the retailer margin by around 1 per cent of MRP across the spectrum of IMFL and FL.

Moreover, the government removed the 15 per cent additional retail excise tax being levied on the liquor being served at bars.

The state government issued a new excise policy with respect to shops for 2024-26 duly fixing the number of shops, method of disposal, retail excise tax, retailer’s margin and others.

The group of ministers met on December 22 last and discussed the effects of an additional levy of ARET on liquor products purchased by bars. It noted that before November, 2019, the invoice price of IMFL and FL supplied by AP state beverages corporation wholesale depots was uniform for both bars and retail shops, ensuring parity in the supply and taxation structure. However, from November, 2019, retail excise tax was additionally levied exclusively on IMFL and FL stock supplies to the bars. This resulted in higher invoice price for bars compared to retail shops for the same IMFL and FL stocks. So, bars have been paying additional ARET.

In a related development, the group of ministers discussed microbreweries and recommended that they may be permitted to be established within a 5-km belt from the municipal corporation limits in the designated tourism centres and in 3 star and above hotels, irrespective of their location, in addition to the municipal corporation as per existing rules.

Accordingly, the government has decided to amend the AP Brewery Rules, 2006, permitting the microbreweries within the 5-km belt from municipal corporation limits and also in the designated tourism centres and in three star and above hotels irrespective of their location.

A notification would be published in the extraordinary issue of the AP Gazette.