[ad_1]
PANAJI :
The cash-strapped Goa government has imposed an additional excise duty of ₹25-30 per liter on entry-level hard liquor and ₹22-30 on entry-level beer, making alcohol costlier in the coastal state. The hike in top quality hard liquor, according to a government notification, has been pegged between ₹2,000 and ₹2,400 per bulk liter and for the premium beer between ₹38 and ₹50 per bulk liter.
In the absence of tourists, liquor stores have been hit hard in Goa with the Goa Liquor Traders Association estimating a 70% shortfall in sale.
The excise duty hike comes at a time when licensed liquor sellers in the state has been demanding sops to tide over the coronavirus crisis, which had led to closure of liquor vends.
One of the most popular tourism destinations in the country, Goa is known for its liberal liquor regime, where alcohol is taxed less against other states, especially neighbors Karnataka and Maharashtra.
There are over 10,000 liquor retailers in the state and the liquor industry contributes over ₹400 crore a year to the state exchequer in form of taxes.
.
[ad_2]
