Heavy crowd in liquor sale in Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit: G.N. Rao

Liquor prices are likely to see a substantial hike from Monday, and the price rise may be around ₹40 per full bottle, ₹20 for half bottle and ₹10 for a nip (popularly referred to as quarter bottle).

Though the orders are yet to be issued officially, the non-availability of the department’s website on Sunday is an indication of the changes being made in the software updating it with the revised rates.

A senior official confirmed that there is no official announcement as of now but the closure of website apprently to revise the rate card is certainly an indication. He also admitted that officials were expecting the hike soon but not from when. But officials say the price fixation committee had already suggested an increase of 10% to 15% hike on the liquor but the recommendations have to get the nod of the Chief Minister and the file was pending for his consideration.

The increase in prices is expected to bring in additional revenue to the tune of ₹150 crore per month. Beer prices have already gone up, during the peak summer season. The beer supplying companies of popular brands had in fact threatened to stop the supply if the prices were not increased.

Meanwhile, wine dealers were also not officially informed about the price hike and they don’t have clarity whether the hike would be for the fresh stocks or also for the existing stock.

Harish opposes hike

Senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and former minister T. Harish Rao has criticised the Congress government for having over dependency on the excise revenue to run the administration.

“Is the government ruling the State only depending on beers and bars as all its efforts are aimed at filling the coffers by increasing the liquor revenue”, he sought to know and stated that Telangana was rising only in the excise income by increasing the prices of liquor and whether it was the change brought about by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.