Price of cheap liquor to go up by 10 percent, liquor priced above Rs 800 unchanged

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The price of cheap liquor has been increased by 10 percent without touching the price of liquor above Rs 800. Popular brand Jawan will cost Rs 60 more per litre bottle. Within two days we will know when the price will increase.

Excise Minister MV Govindan had yesterday said that Bevco cannot go on without raising prices. The decision has been stalled due to the Thrikkakara by-election. Bevco recommended raising prices in response to repeated demand from breweries. Small manufacturers have reduced the supply of alcohol. Cheap liquor is not available at regular counters in bars. Bevco tried to resolve the crisis by increasing beer supply but to no avail.

Liquor prices were increased for manufacturers four years ago. The price of a litre of spirits available here has gone up from Rs 48 to Rs 72. Currently, ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol) comes to Kerala mainly from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Earlier, it used to come from Karnataka as well. The McDowell Company in Cherthala, which is owned by the UB Group, had previously produced spirits but stopped in 2009. Liquor production now depends on the spirit from outside the state.

The cause for shortage

• Decision to add ethanol to petroleum products.
• Increased use of spirit for the manufacture of sanitizer.
• Some large business groups buy ENA in bulk