The Haryana Cabinet,under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Tuesday, approved the excise policy for the year 2023-24, while simultaneously announcing that the excise revenue of the state has doubled in the last five years.
“With an increase of almost two-fold in excise revenue in the last five years, Haryana’s excise policies have successfully achieved and strengthened the long term objectives of the CM Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in breaking cartels, broad-basing the trade by facilitating the entry of new players of even modest means, establishing a transparent system of allotment of retail outlets, and plugging leakages. Not only this, but the government is now also aiming to cross a benchmark of Rs 10,000 crore with the successful implementation of the excise
With an increase of almost two-fold in excise revenue in the last five years, Haryana’s excise policies have successfully achieved and strengthened the long term objectives of the CM Manohar Lal Khattar-led government in breaking cartels, broad-basing the trade by facilitating the entry of new players of even modest means, establishing a transparent system of allotment of retail outlets, and plugging leakages. Not only this, but the government is now also aiming to cross a benchmark of Rs 10,000 crore with the successful implementation of the excise policy 2022-23
Notably, in the last two years, 100 per cent of the licence fee, at which the retail vends were allotted, has been recovered by the state government,” a government spokesperson said.
The new excise policy that was aproved on Tuesday comprises features to generate resources that can be utilized to finance developmental projects.
Aim to collect Rs 400 crore for environment, animal welfare.
As per the new policy, a retail permit fee has been imposed with a targeted collection of Rs. 400 crore. “The said amount will be utilized for environment and animal welfare. As an environmentally friendly measure, the new policy aims to discontinue the use of PET bottles in the bottling of liquor after February 29, 2024. For ease of doing business, in the new policy, the labels of IFL shall also be renewed at the district level. Also, in order to promote the MSME sector, the licence fees for small (craft) breweries have been reduced.
The supervisory fee for wineries has also been reduced in the state”, the state government’s spokesperson said.
Limit of maximum number of retail vends reduced.
In the new excise policy, the limit of the maximum number of retail liquor vends in the state has been reduced successively from last year’s 2500 to 2400 in 2023- 24.
“It has also been decided that liquor vends shall not be opened in holy areas notified around Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula and in villages in which gurukuls are functioning. In the current policy, the retail liquor vend zone size has also been decreased from four to two in a bid to allow more participants to apply for liquor shop licence through e-tenders,” the spokesperson said. Increase in the basic quota of country liquor.
In the new policy, there has been an increase in the basic quota of country liquor, Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Imported Foreign Liquor. With this, there has also been a nominal increase in rates of excise duty on country liquor and IMFL to give a major push to excise revenues.
In order to promote low alcohol content beverages, the excise duty on ready to drink beverages and beer under the mild and super mild categories has been slashed. Further, the licence fee for the Pub category (L-10E) — for the consumption of beer and wine only — has been reduced further.
Penalty provisions have been made stringent.
To curb pilferage of liquor by wholesale licensees, the penalty provisions have been made stringent and there will be a complete ban on liquor promotion advertisements on various platforms by the licensee, including on social media.
Boards to be installed outside bars, pubs.
Caution boards would be displayed outside all hotels, pubs and bars, restaurants and café serving liquor under excise licence. Furthermore, to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Apart from this, it will be compulsory for all retail vends in urban areas, taverns and wholesale licensees to install fire-fighting equipment.
The above news was originally posted on news.google.com
