Liquor prices in Punjab are set to rise in the next financial year, with Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Imported Foreign Liquor (IFL) becoming more expensive. The state government has announced its new Excise Policy for 2026–27, aiming to significantly increase revenue from the sector.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the government has set a target to raise an additional ₹1,780 crore through excise collections. So far, the state has already recorded over ₹11,200 crore in revenue.
Under the new policy, which was approved by the Cabinet on Monday, Punjab will also allow manufacturing units to produce single malt whisky starting in the 2026–27 fiscal year. Single malt is considered a premium category of liquor, made from a single grain—typically barley—unlike regular whisky, which can be made from a blend of multiple grains.
The government has fixed a total excise revenue target of ₹12,800 crore for 2026–27. In comparison, the target for the previous financial year was ₹11,020 crore, which was later revised to ₹11,200 crore by the Finance Department.
The move reflects the state’s efforts to boost revenue through excise while expanding premium liquor production within Punjab.
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