Government has decided to reduce the price of liquor in the state. The decision was taken by the Uttarakhand cabinet on Saturday. The new excise policy was on the agenda of the cabinet meeting on the day and the cabinet gave its nod to it.

Though there was no official declaration of the cabinet decision, it is learnt that in the new excise policy, a revenue target of about Rs 3,600 Crore is kept by the state government for the coming financial year.  Giving relief to the liquor lovers of the state,  the government decided to reduce the price of liquor and make them at par or less than the price of liquor in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh (UP). The prices of popular brands are likely to witness a reduction of 10 to 15 percent in Uttarakhand now.

This decision is taken in view of large scale smuggling of liquor in Uttarakhand from the neighbouring states. In the new policy, the state government has decided to adopt a dual policy of allocation of liquor shops in the state.

There are 612 liquor shops in the state. It is learnt that the excise department would offer the license holders of 380 profit earning shops to retain the license for the year 2020-21 by paying additional revenue of 15 percent on the last year’s fees. The remaining 332 shops would be sold by adopting the method of lottery system. Making amendment in the process of giving licences to the Bars, the new excise policy has given the district magistrates (DM) the rights of offering licenses. As of now the bar licenses are given at the level of the state administration.