Bengal Government plans price hike of Liquor | Check probable rates

The West Bengal government is considering a price increase for various liquor and beer brands by the end of the financial year 2024-25. This move aims to exceed the targeted growth in state excise collection.

Sources within the state excise directorate indicate that expressions of interest will be evaluated to assess the production cost of existing liquor and beer brands following a new assessment. The last price hike occurred in February 2023, when expressions of interest were also sought from liquor manufacturers to evaluate production costs.

Based on these evaluations, the final per-bottle price and the state excise duty to be levied are determined. This year, the process of seeking and evaluating expressions of interest from liquor manufacturers has already begun. The impact of the evaluation report will soon be reflected in the prices of liquor and beer brands.

Expected Price Increases:

• Indian Made Foreign Liquor (750 ml): Increase by Rs 5 to Rs 100 per bottle.
• Country Liquor (600 ml): Increase by Rs 5 per bottle.
• Beer: Increase by Rs 20 to Rs 30 per bottle.

Insiders from the State Excise Directorate stated that this interim price hike aims to surpass the targeted growth in state excise collections set for the 2024-25 Budget Estimates.