Published: May 16, 2025
If you’re in Bengaluru and enjoy an occasional beer or a low-cost bottle of Indian-made liquor, you’ll now have to shell out a bit more.
The Karnataka government has announced another hike in liquor prices—this time increasing the additional excise duty on beer from 195% to 200%. A 5% hike has also been applied to cheaper Indian Made Liquor (IML). This change, which kicked in on Thursday, marks the fourth price increase in just two years.
According to officials, the price hike mainly impacts the first four categories of liquor priced up to ₹600 per bulk litre. So, for consumers, that means:
A 180 ml bottle of cheaper liquor is now ₹15 more expensive
Beer prices have gone up by around ₹10 per bottle
However, there’s some relief for those who prefer premium brands—the government clarified that higher-end liquors across 12 categories won’t see any price change.
The move has sparked concerns among liquor vendors. Govindraj Hegde, General Secretary of the Federation of Wine Merchants’ Association, noted that the frequent hikes are becoming burdensome. In fact, the government initially planned a 10% hike but scaled it back after protests from the wine merchants’ body.
Back in the 2024 state budget, the Siddaramaiah-led administration signaled a clear strategy: tax low-cost liquor more heavily while offering some relief to premium brands.
Local bars and wine shops, especially in busy areas like Koramangala, Indiranagar, Jayanagar, and Whitefield, might see a slight drop in sales of economy liquor options due to this new price rise.
So, if you’re heading out this weekend, be prepared to spend a little extra on your favorite affordable drink.
