The liquor lovers in Haryana can soon expect to find their favourite brand of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in tetra packs across all the districts. For, the Manohar Lal Khattar led Haryana Government on Tuesday gave nod to its excise policy 2019-20 which enables liquor manufacturers to market IMFL in tetra packs (biodegradable) of 180 ML, technically called Nips.
In a bid to please booze lovers and eyeing more revenue from liquor business in the next financial year, the State Government has announced a series of new initiatives in excise policy for 2019-20.
Among this measures included launch of superior 65 degree proof country liquor called metro liquor to be distilled and marketed by the state based distilleries, lowering excise duty on Rum sold through CSD canteens and permitting the establishment of state of the art, ‘Avant-garde' outlets in malls and licensed shopping areas in Gurugram, Faridabad and Panchkula to enhance the marketing experience of all the liquor consumers.
Emphasising its commitment to environment protection, the government’s policy has stated that at least 20 per cent of the liquor will be sold in glass bottles.
“The cabinet has approved the excise policy for 2019-20 with a projection of an all time high target of Rs 7,500 crore indicating a yearon-year growth of 19 per cent from this year's Rs 6,300 crore,” said an official spokesman of Haryana Government.
The excise policy emphasises the launch of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) initiatives involving application and grant of licenses online through the Department's portal. Time limits have been framed for each activity under the EODB.
Also, the renewal of labels and permissions for exports will be automated. Disposal of expired or confiscated beer will also be carried out under an environment friendly manner through the Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) of the breweries, the spokesman said.
To provide quality country liquor to the consumers at lower rates, the policy allows the launch of superior 65 degree proof country liquor called metro liquor to be distilled and marketed by the state based distilleries. It also fulfills the expectations of the armed forces by lowering excise duty on Rum sold through CSD Canteens in the state by Rs 61 per proof litre, he said.
With a view to moulding the consumption from strong to mild liquor, the State Government has allowed micro breweries to opt for a license without seeking a mandatory license for hard liquor.
The policy also permits the establishment of state of the art, Rs Avant-garde' outlets in Malls and licensed shopping areas in Gurugram, Faridabad and Panchkula to enhance the marketing experience of all the consumers.
Giving details related to excise duty, the spokesman said that the excise policy has rationalized excise duty on IMFL, Country Liquor and Beer to maximise revenue and to simultaneously promote the industry as a whole. To cater to the growing demand, the annual mandatory lifting quota for country liquor and IMFL has been marginally raised from 10 to 10.5 crore proof litre and from 6 to 6.5 crore proof litre respectively.
The policy also allows more suppliers in the imported foreign liquor to break the shackles of the monopolies while ensuring that revenue increase of the previous two years is further enhanced, he said.
For quicker clearances and decision making in the department, district level officers have been delegated the authority of collector excise to a large extent. The retail zones have largely been retained of the same size with six vends located in each geographical position, the spokesman said.
To facilitate individuals to keep enhanced stock of liquor through his life time for self consumption at home, the licence for this purpose (L50) has been made more affordable and it would now be possible to obtain this license online through the department's portal.
In urban areas, besides the earlier two sub vends, two additional sub vends can be provided in every zone to ensure that no bootlegging takes place within the zone, he added.
Apart from this, to facilitate potential licenses who want to bid higher than 25 per cent above reserve price of a zone, the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) has been rationalised to 15 per cent instead of 21 per cent.
57 panchayats say no to liquor
Liquor will not be sold in 57 panchayats which passed a resolution to that effect in the prescribed time in Haryana.
Apart from this, liquor will also not be sold in the holy cities of Thanesar MC limit and Pehowa. Liquor will also not be allowed to be sold in villages where Kanya Gurukul is functioning.
In rural areas, villages with population exceeding 5000 will also be allowed an additional sub vend as well in the state.
350 police personnel to check supply of illicit liquor
To keep a check on supply of illicit liquor in the state, the government has decided that 350 police personnel would be deputed in the Excise Department exclusively for this purpose. The excise policy also provides for stringent norms of sale for bars and restaurants, particularly in towns like Bhiwani, Kaithal, Hisar, Jind and Fatehabad to ensure that licenses are not mis-utilised for sale of bottled liquor in competition of legitimate L-2 and L-13 licensees.