Liquor prices likely to go up in Kerala, decision in next Cabinet meeting

THIRUVANANTHAURAM: As per reports say, the Kerala Cabinet might decide to significantly increase the price of liquor in its next meeting. In order to solve the current crisis in liquor supply, the government will waive the turnover tax for manufacturers and will incur a loss of Rs 170 crores as a result. The sales tax will be increased to make up for this loss. Bevco MD's recommendation in this regard is being scrutinized. Bevco suffered a loss of 100 crores within fifteen days due to the crisis in liquor supply.

With reduced production at distilleries, there is a lack of availability of popular brands at retail outlets. Alcohol priced up to Rs 750 is not available. Bevco makes more profit by selling these types of lower priced brands. Companies have already demanded to increase the price of liquor due to the increase in the price of spirit. But as there was no favourable decision to this demand, the companies restricted the production. With that, the availability of popular brands also went down. There has been an increase of Rs 10 per litre in the price of spirit for alcohol production in three months. Now the price is Rs 74. The demand of the companies was that the price of the liquor should be increased in proportion to the increase in the price of spirit. Many leading brands of liquor are produced in distilleries in Kerala. An average of 20 lakh cases of Indian-made foreign liquor is sold in the state every month.