Foreign Liquor To Be Cheaper In Chhattisgarh As State Govt Scraps Additional Excise Duty: Check Details

The decision was taken on Sunday at a cabinet meeting chaired by CM Sai. Its benefits include availability of foreign liquor at lower prices and secondly curbing liquor smuggling from other states.

Foreign liquor is set to get cheaper in Chhattisgarh after the state government scrapped the additional excise duty of 9.5 percent on them in a majar cabinet decision. The abolished excise duty will result in a decrease of medium and high-range foreign liquor prices.

The decision, taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday evening, will have two major benefits. These include availability of foreign liquor at lower prices, which will further reduce the financial burden on consumers, and secondly, it will help in curbing liquor smuggling from other states.

It is estimated that the retail prices of liquor will drop by approximately Rs 40 to Rs 3,000 per bottle due to this decision.

The government believes that uniform liquor prices eliminate the need for illegal imports. The decision is also expected to benefit the state's revenue and maintain market stability.

Infrastructure Development Fee On Liquor Remains Unchanged

The state cabinet on Sunday approved the Chhattisgarh Excise Policy for the financial year 2025-26. According to the new policy, nearly 674 liquor shops will remain operational in the next financial year. However, the premium shops will function as per requirement, the public relations department official said, PTI reported.

Meanwhile, the existing rate offer will continue to remain effective for supply of country liquor. Also, Chhattisgarh State Beverages Corporation Limited will continue to be manage the wholesale procurement and distribution of foreign liquor.

The official also said that the infrastructure development fee on liquor will stay unchanged, but the 'additional excise duty' of 9.5 percent on retail foreign liquor will be scrapped in the next financial year.

In another major decision, the Chhattisgarh cabinet authorised the state Good Governance and Convergence Department to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (The Art of Living) to generate employment and ensure the welfare of rural areas, the official told PTI.