AP levies additional excise tax on liquor prices, shops re-open today

Vijayawada: Liquor prices in Andhra Pradesh were increased on Monday after an additional retail excise tax (ARET) was levied by the YSR Congress party government.

ARET is part of the YSR Congress party government’s new plan to enforce prohibition in a phased manner. The excise department in a statement said an additional retail tax of Rs 10 was imposed on every 60 ml to 90 ml of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) whose price is up to Rs 120 per 180 ml up to a maximum of Rs 240 on a 2000 ml bottle. The same amount of tax will be applicable for foreign liquor (FL).

For the IMFL and FL whose price in between Rs 120 and Rs 150 per 180 ml, the ARET of Rs20 imposed on every 90 ml up to Rs 480 on a 2000 ml.

For above Rs150 per 180 ml IMFL and FL, the ARET of Rs30 has been levied on every 90 ml up to Rs720 per 2000ml

On beer, the government imposed an additional tax up to Rs 20 on a 330 ml bottle, Rs 30 on 500 or 650 ml, Rs2000 on 30, 000 ml and Rs3000 on 50,000 ml.

The number of wine shops in the state has been reduced from 4,380 to 3,500 and the department has taken over all the retail shops from private traders. Alcohol sale has been reduced by 15% by March in Andhra Pradesh.

As per the revised prices if a bottle costs Rs 112.5 after 25% increase, it will be charged Rs 120 as round off price.Starting Monday, the AP government will open the liquor shops from 11 am to 7 pm

It said the Government would be very strict about the sale of alcohol at maximum retail price and if any employee who violated the rules and sold alcohol at more than the MRP would be sacked immediately. Long queues were witnessed in front of liquor outlets on Monday as the shops were reopened after a gap of over 40 days.