JAIPUR: Booze shops need to renew their licences every two years instead of one, says the new excise policy for 2022-23 and 2023-24 announced by the state government on Saturday. The policy has also abolished all Covid-related cess on liquor.
Licence fee of restro-bars, which have been bearing the brunt of Covid due to lockdowns and reduction in tourist footfall, has been reduced by Rs 1 lakh and fixed at Rs 8 lakh instead of Rs 9 lakh.
However, hotel bar licence fee has been kept at last year’s rate of Rs 8 lakh. There will be a 20% discount in licence fee for hotels bars if they pay the money for a period of five years in a single instalment. Besides, licenced bars will be allowed to establish and operate microbreweries.
The policy provides provision for auto approval for hotel bar licences. If the officer concerned fails to approve a licence applied online on stipulated time, it will be treated as deemed approval.
According to the policy, Rajasthan Beverages Corporation will set up model shops on PP mode in major cities where premium brands will be sold. The state will continue to have 7,665 booze shops and no person can own more than two outlets in a district and five shops in the state.
The department expects to earn a revenue of Rs 15,000 crore in 2022-23 fiscal.
Under the new policy, composite fee has been replaced with an annual licence fee, which will be 5% of the annual guarantee amount of a shop.
Under the new policy, composite fee has been replaced with an annual licence fee, which will be 5% of the annual guarantee amount of a shop.
The department has extended the time for depositing dues of existing licencees till February 28.
