Yogi government to cut excise duty to curb liquor smuggling

UP eyeing Rs 20,595 crore in excise revenue during 2017-18

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is mulling paring the excise duty to curb rampant liquor smuggling from neighbouring states, especially Haryana.
 
Liquor smuggling is quite rampant in the western region of UP due to higher excise duty levied in the state compared to the neighbouring states, which ultimately results in steeper retail prices of liquor in UP and thus incentivises bootleggers. This hits excise revenues as well apart from the import of cheap liquor and hooch from other states endangering the lives of its consumers.
 
To check illegal liquor trade and smuggling, the Yogi government is