Liquor In Delhi To Get Cheaper From Wednesday As AAP Govt Withdraws 'Special Corona Fee'

Value Added Tax increased from existing 20 per cent to 25 per cent on all categories of liquor sold in jurisdiction of Delhi will come into effect from June 10.

Customers will now be able to buy liquor at a cheaper price from June 10,2020. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: In what comes as a big relief for alcohol consumers, the Delhi government on Tuesday announced the withdrawal of the 'Special Corona Fee' levied at 70 per cent of the maximum retail price on all categories of liquor. As per the latest development, the customers who were paying hefty prices for alcohol since past one month, will now be able to buy liquor at a cheaper price from June 10,2020. However, the government increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) on all categories of liquor from 20 per cent to 25 per cent.  The government has, however, increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) from existing 20 per cent to 25 per cent on all categories of liquor sold in jurisdiction of Delhi and will come into effect from June 10.

Delhi govt has withdrawn Special Corona Fee levied at 70% of maximum retail price on all categories of liquor, with effect from 10 June. Further, Value Added Tax increased from existing 20% to 25% on all categories of liquor sold in jurisdiction of Delhi with effect from 10 June

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2020

A special fee was imposed by Kejriwal government on all liquor categories, levied at 70 per cent of the MRP on May 5. The move was supposed to boost the government revenue, which had been hit hard due to the coronavirus-forced lockdown, but led to a steep rise in the retail prices of liquor bottles and  government looked to earn additional revenue. When liquor shops were exempted from lockdown, immense rush was witnessed at the counters of Delhi, in a massive violation of social distancing rules. To avoid overcrowding at these shops, Delhi government came up with an e-token system, which provides time slots to customers. This enables people to visit the particular counter on a given date and time. As of now, Delhi has a total of 29,943 corona cases out of which 11,357 patients have been cured and discharged. A total of 17,712 patients are currently undergoing treatment for coronavirus in the national capital.