Staff Reporter
Guwahati: The Assam Excise Department has announced a reduction in excise duty, leading to a decrease in liquor prices, particularly for foreign brands, effective from September 1. The Excise department has outlined the key features of the reduction, including a decrease of Rs. 22 for a 650 ml bottle of beer with 5% alcohol and a reduction of Rs. 34 for 650 ml of beer with over 5% alcohol.
Prices of spirits will also drop, with a Rs. 117 cut for a 750 ml bottle of rum under the general brand and a Rs. 144 reduction for 750 ml bottles of whisky, gin, and other spirits in the regular brand category. Luxury brands of brandy, whisky, and gin will see a Rs. 166 decrease, while elegant brands will experience a Rs. 214 cut. This move comes after a previous price hike on April 1, which saw increases ranging from Rs. 150 to Rs. 312 for various liquor brands. The price of 750-ml bottles under the Elephant Brand went up by Rs. 225, while premium brands saw a Rs. 312 hike. The cost of beer had also increased by Rs. 16.
This comes about after the prices were hiked in March to raise the revenue of the state, as the excise duty on alcohol is a major contributor to the state's coffers.
Excise Department explained that new tax system combines ad-valorem rates with modified minimum prices on the type and cost of liquor.
The price reduction is viewed as a Calculated move to push sales before the onset of the festival season and in view of a slump in alcohol sales following the earlier price hike.
Assam, that consumes around 5.30 lakh litres of alcohol daily earning Rs 10 crore as excise revenue from it, would be abuzz with the impact of this reduction.
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