Liquor prices to shoot up

The state government seems to be preparing the ground for yet another round of hikes in liquor prices and for the first time in three years, beer prices may also go up.

Contrary to usual practice, the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited, which is the state-owned wholesale liquor trader, did not renew the rate contract with the manufacturers for one year.

Instead, it preferred to extend the existing rates only for two months, indicating a price hike very soon.

Official sources said the government is already under pressure from liquor manufacturers and beer suppliers to enhance the rates. However, with elections nearing, the manufacturers’ lobby is said to have stopped pressurising the government.

The beer manufacturers sought `37 hike per case for lager beer from `210 The excise department received a shocker with more than 1,000 liquor retail outlets having no takers. The department offered to renew the licences of the existing retailers of whom 1,100 did not turn up leaving the officials in worry. About 600 shops could not be auctioned last year forcing the APBCL to run its own outlets in some places. This time the number is more because hundreds of existing retailers suffered huge losses. “High license fee coupled with strict enforcement of MRP had upset the estimates of the licensees,” said a senior excise official. A large number of licencees who did not turn up for renewal is from East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Krishna, Kadapa and Nellore followed by Karimnagar, Warangal and Prakasam. and `49 per case for strong beer from `235. “Beer price hasn’t been increased since February 2010, while the liquor prices were enhanced thrice within the last year,” said a beer manufacturer. The consumer will pay `10 excess per bottle if the government okays the hike, he added.