VIJAYAWADA: The state government has rationalised various taxes and special margin on liquor resulting in a price hike of some brands as part of its policy to reduce consumption of liquor in the state.
Accordingly, it levied taxes on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands with the basic price up to Rs 2,500 and the percentage of additional retail excise tax on basic price is 250, additional excise duty is 10, AP value added tax is 10 and rate of special margin is 110. In case the basic price of IMFL is above Rs 2,500, the percentage will be ARET-150, AED-10, AP VAT-10 and rate of special margin-110. For beer, ARET on basic price is 225%; for wine, it is 200% and for ready to drink packaged beverage, it is 50 while the percentage of AED is common for beer, wine and RTD at 10 and so is the case for AP VAT at 10% and rate of special margin at 110% for all the three varieties.
With regard to foreign liquor, the state government levied ARET on assessable value at 75%, while on AAG it is 10% and 60% on AP VAT.
Revenue (excise) special chief secretary Dr. Rajat Bhargava issued GO Ms No. 556 on Friday by rationalising various taxes to be levied on IMFL and FL. The new prices came into effect on Saturday.
The GO said that the government was committed to reduce the consumption levels of alcohol in the state with a view to improve the physical standards of the people. The notable proactive steps include removal of 43,000 belt shops and private persons from retailing of liquor in addition to dispensing with permit rooms and reduction in number of retail outlets and maximum possession limit of liquor and also enhancing punishments for excise related offenses and entrusting the liquor retail trade of AP State Beverages Corporation Limited.
Moreover, the levying various taxes like ARET and AP VAT led to increased prices of some brands while it came down for some.
Accordingly, the cost of 750 ml black and white finest blended scotch whisky aged 12 years is revised to Rs 3,620 from Rs 3,200. Similarly, 2,000 ml black dog triple gold reserve blend scotch whisky will cost Rs 9,110 from Rs 7,240 and a 750 ml Macintosh blue reserve whisky to cost Rs 1,940 from Rs 1,800, among others.
Brands, whose prices slid included 750 ml 9 Seahorses select whisky, which will cost Rs 510 from the earlier Rs 530 while 180 ml Kyron rare brandy will be available for Rs 300 as against the earlier price of Rs 340.
Though some guzzlers are worried as the price of their regular brands has gone up, women are happy that the upward revision of price will serve as a deterrent and helps reduce liquor consumption.
