Ludhiana sees 2nd consecutive hike in liquor prices

Within last 20 days, Ludhiana residents witnessed a second consecutive hike in the prices of some of the popular liquor brands. Liquor contractors said the earlier rates were not feasible.

The hike came after liquor contractors met the excise and taxation officials on June 10.

Last year, majority of the Ludhiana liquor vends were owned by the Ponty Chadha group and at that time liquor rates were pretty high.

However, residents got a respite from high rates of liquor this year, thanks to the Punjab government's new excise policy according to which vends were allotted through lottery system.

After the allotments this year, rates of liquor and beer reduced drastically. Rate of a Blenders Pride whisky bottle, which was sold for Rs 550 last year, came down to Rs 290 this year. Similarly, beer rates came down from Rs 80 to Rs 40 a bottle.

Liquor contractors said they had to go for another hike as the low rates were not economically viable. The new rates will be applicable at vends across the city from June 17.

Business Standard found out that while a bottle of Blenders Pride whiskey will cost Rs 30 more than the earlier price of Rs 320 a bottle, a Royal Stag bottle will now cost Rs 250 instead of Rs 190, the price that came into effect after the new excise policy from April 1.

Bottle of 8 PM whisky, earlier sold for Rs 160, will now cost Rs 180; Binny Fine bottle worth Rs 130 will now be sold for Rs 150.

The contractors today also increased rates of country-made liquor, cost of Hamera Raspberry, a popular country liquor brand, has increased from Rs 80 to Rs 95 a bottle. These rates will be applicable at all city vends as all contractors have collectively favoured the hike.

The state government has fixed minimum prices of these brands and contractors are free to increase the rates. The minimum price of Blenders Pride as set by the government is Rs 290, while it is Rs 190 per bottle for Royal Stag. For country liquor, the minimum price is Rs 80 a bottle.