Beer price reduced in UP, country made and foreign liquor become expensive

Lucknow: The new financial year in Uttar Pradesh has witnessed new excise policy with decrease in the price of beer but substantial rise in the rate if country made and foreign liquor from Thursday.

Price of beer in the state has been reduced by Rs 20 per bottle.

While buying beer will be cheaper in the state, there will be an increase in the price of country made and foreign made liquor. The price of different brands of English liquor has been increased by 15 to 20 per cent.

The rise in country made liquor was just nominal.

Officials here on Thursday said there is no change in the excise duty and license fee of beer, but its prices are being reduced to increase the consumption of beer in Uttar Pradesh.

The sale of beer was badly affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The sale at beer shops from April 2020 to November 2020 has been only 17.28 crore bottles in the state against 27.08 crore bottles last year, which is approximately 36 per cent less. Hence they have decided to reduce the price of beer to boost its sale this financial.

The government has decided not to change the annual license fee of retail shops of beer.

As per the Excise Policy for the year 2020-21, the maximum retail price (MRP) of beer is higher than neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh like Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. The price of beer is also higher than those states which are prone to smuggling. Additionally, the yield charge on beer is higher than that of foreign wines, depending on the alcohol content. (UNI)