March 22: You may find it difficult to believe but Chandigarh Excise has realised this year that simply by insisting that an invoice must be raised for every sale of alcohol in the city and so insists in the new excise policy announced yesterday accordingly, even as the Haryana Policy has been also announced with minimal changes,
According to Business Standard, The excise policy for 2018-19 is aimed at earning a revenue of Rs 450 crore in comparison with Rs 354 crore expected in the current fiscal, an increase of about 27 per cent, said an official release. The allotment of licensing units will be made by tendering system, it said. The number of retail shops for country liquor and Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) have been increased from 77 to 93 in the city, it said.
To promote low alcoholic contents beverages like wine and to boost wine industry, the extra license fee or excise duty has been reduced from Rs 20 per bulk litre to Rs 15 There is no increase in the minimum retail sale price of beer in Chandigarh, the release said.
A new license in form L-2D has been introduced for sale of Indian Wine, imported wine and beer to be granted to shops and establishments registered under Goods and Service Tax Act, 2017 with a license fee of Rs 200,000 (Rs. Two lakhs), it said.
Apparently encouraged by the application of cess on taxes like Income Tax etc by the Central government, a small cess of Rs. 2 per bulk liter has been added to the wholesale license. This cess will be collected and given to Indian Red Cross Society, Chandigarh Branch, the release said. Now perhaps, someone could recommend to the government to collect a small cess of a few paisa per bulk liter on wine to be collected and paid to the Indian Wine Academy for propagating the benefits of drinking wine in moderation!
Haryana Policy also announced
Neeraj Sachdeva, owner of Lake Forest Wines, is elated with getting the license for the second year. He says, 'Last year was a tough year for us with a few initial hiccups. We managed it well as a team and we now are looking forward to a new year with a positive mind set.'
Haryana Excise Policy has been also announced with the all-important L-1 BF being allotted again to the sister concern of Lake Forest Wines. Confirming the news, Sherry Anne Sudan, Country Head (Sales and Marketing) of Lake Forest Wines (LFW) conforms from Florence where she is visiting some wineries after a visit earlier to ProWein, that the firm had indeed won the L-1 BF License Award at a slightly higher increased cost of Rs. 63.5 Cr. Last year, the firm had paid Rs. 62.5 Cr. for the same. Though the business started rather late- almost in September, they have done well to be able to reach their target by the month-end, she says.
The firm had already won the license for over 60 retail shops in the e-bidding, announced a couple of days earlier, so the supremacy of her company has been well-established for the 2018-2019. She also confirmed that there had been only one bid this year for L-1 BF license. Last year there were 2 bids.
Haryana had already announced that it would be compulsory to cut invoice for every sale of alcohol made. Also Adhaar card linkages was mandatory for licensing to know the exact wherewithal of the applicants.
For an Article on the last year’s policy and bidding, visit:
Monopolistic Haryana Excise Liquor Policy for 2017-18
Subhash Arora
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