Liquor prices to go up by 7 per cent from today in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Liquor prices in the state will go up by up to seven percent on Wednesday as the government has granted its approval to the persistent demand of liquor producers to increase prices. The state government will get an additional annual revenue of about Rs. 700 crore with the fresh price hike. According to Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) sources, the price hike will range from Rs. 10 per bottle of beer costing around Rs. 90 to Rs. 70 for Indian Made Foreign Liquor costing above Rs. 1,000. Prices of wines have also been increased.  Since the revised prices will be rounded to multiples of five, the new price of some brands will be slightly higher than seven percent of the existing maximum retail price.

"We have allowed a maximum price increase of seven percent. While some producers demanded a greater hike, some demanded lesser hikes," KSBC managing director Mr. H Venkatesh told DC. Liquor prices in the state were increased marginally in May this year as the KSBC increased its warehouse margin by five percent. The last price hike for producers was given in 2012-13 fiscal. Over the last couple of years, the producers had been vehemently demanding a price hike citing hike in prices of raw materials and labour costs, KSBC sources said. The state government was so far getting around Rs. 13,500 crore revenue from liquor sales. It will cross Rs. 14,000 crore with the fresh hike.