CIABC criticises Uttarakhand excise policy
The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has levelled serious allegations against the Uttarakhand Government, claiming that its current excise policy is discriminatory towards Indian liquor manufacturers while blatantly favouring imported brands.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the CIABC asserted that the State’s decision to limit premium retail outlets in malls and departmental stores exclusively to imported liquor undermines the Prime Minister’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. The industry body argued that such a policy grants a virtual monopoly to importers, effectively denying consumers access to high-quality, world-class Indian alcoholic beverages.
CIABC Director General Anant S Iyer stated that the organisation has submitted multiple representations to the State Government, urging for a more inclusive policy. “Denying popular and globally-awarded Indian wines and spirituous beverages access to mall and departmental stores simply because they are not produced in Uttarakhand is grossly unfair,” Iyer said.
He further explained that logistics and raw material constraints — such as the fact that grapes for wine production are primarily sourced from Maharashtra and Karnataka — make it impossible for many renowned Indian brands to manufacture their products within Uttarakhand.
“Many brands produced in India are popular worldwide. Why should local residents and tourists be denied these Indian offerings? It goes against the ethos of encouraging Swadeshi goods,” he added.Drawing a comparison to national security institutions, the CIABC noted that the Army and paramilitary forces have long discontinued the sale of imported liquor in Canteen Stores Departments to promote Indian-made spirits. The body maintained that Uttarakhand’s mandate contradicts the national agenda of fostering self-reliance.
The CIABC has called upon the State Government to take proactive, non-parochial steps to support domestic producers.
“The domestic Indian alcoholic beverage industry urges the Government of Uttarakhand to support Indian-made products, including Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and wines,” the statement concluded.
