We are committed to ending the dominance of liquor mafia in the state – Sanjay R Bhoosreddy
Lucknow: Excise Policy for the year 2023-24 has been approved by the Council of Ministers. Giving detailed information in this regard, Additional Chief Secretary Excise Sanjay R. Bhoosreddy told that liquor consumption should be kept in responsible and safe limits, bringing complete transparency and fairness in allotment of shops by ending the dominance of liquor mafia, eliminating human interference in the allotment process, promoting ease of doing business and good governance. Transfer of funds through digital means, full control over the construction/sale of illegal temples, preventing loss of revenue and theft, earning maximum revenue for adequate funding of development-oriented government projects, proper supply of quality liquor to consumers. Excise policy for the year 2023-24 has been prepared to fulfill the objectives of making it available at affordable prices and providing stability to the liquor business.
Bhoosreddy said that the mandate of the approved excise policy will be uploaded on shasnadesh.up.gov.in soon. In the excise policy year 2023-24, only 2 categories of country liquor have been kept on the basis of intensity. These intensities are 36 percent V./V. and 25 percent v./v. Sale of country liquor 200 ml. Potency will be done in glass and pet bottles and tetra packs. In both the categories of country liquor, there will be three types of country liquor namely plain, flavored and spiced.
42.8 percent v./v. Grain ENA in intensity Made from U.P. Sale of Made Liquor (UPML) will also be allowed in the year 2023-24. U.P.M.L. There will also be three types of plain, flavored and spice. The annual quota (MGQ) of country liquor shops has been increased by 10 percent. There has been no change in the pricing of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Liquor imported from overseas. EBP for pricing of beer. The slabs have been changed and new formulas have been set.
Additional Chief Secretary said till now the rate of country liquor and U.P.M.L was determined at a uniform rate. Determination of the prices of E.D.P. submitted by the distilleries according to their cost. Based on this, it will be done through mathematical formulas. EDP in each category to control the values. With this system, healthy competition will arise in the producing distilleries and quality country liquor will be available to the consumers at a reasonable price.
Retail margin has been increased in country liquor and U.P.M.L. There has been an increase in both wholesale margin and retail margin. There has been a 10 percent increase in the license fee for retail shops selling country liquor, foreign liquor, beer, cannabis and model shops. The license fee for premium retail vend licenses has been fixed at Rs twenty five lakh per annum.
As per the approved excise policy, the authority area of Gautam Budh Nagar, municipal corporation area of Lucknow and Ghaziabad and 5 km from its periphery. A special category has been created for Hotel/Restaurant and Club Bar licenses. The license fee for bar licenses located in special category areas has been increased. There is no increase in the license fee for other categories of bar licenses. Business has been made transparent and easy in the region of imported liquor from overseas.
Approval/registration license wise of brands and labels of liquor imported from overseas will be mandatory. For this, the authorization letter of the brand owner or the major importer of the concerned brand in India will not be mandatory. Excise Commissioner, U.P. has the right to create shops in each category equivalent to 02 percent of the present number of retail shops.
All retail shops and model shops will be managed through renewal, e-lottery and e-tender. The application processing fee and renewal fee have been increased. In the year 2022-23, there has been an increase of 05 percent in the annual revenue involved in the clearance taken at foreign liquor, beer shops, premium retail vends and model shops for the year 2023-24. The monthly revenue of the months of the year will be determined on the basis of the annual revenue determined as above. In the year 2023-24, it has been made mandatory to raise monthly revenue on premium retail sale as well. Wholesale licenses will also be renewed for the year 2023-24.
Sale of wine has also been permitted on wholesale licenses of beer (FL 2B). Sale of LAB has also been allowed on the wholesale licenses of foreign liquor (FL 2. Licenses). Brand registration and label approval fees have not been increased. Renewal of brand label and M.R. In case of renewal after the month of July, twice the renewal fee will be charged. Such brand labels which have not been renewed till the month of July, 2023, will be replaced with new brand-labels. Registration as such will not be allowed in the year 2023-24.
Grain ENA in the state in order to encourage its exports, the import pass fee has been increased, while the export pass fee has been reduced, in view of its manufacture in abundance. Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Excise Department has been given the right to change the time period of sale of liquor in retail shops and bar licenses, up to a certain period on special occasions. In the year 2023-24, a target has been set by the Excise Department to earn a revenue of Rs 45,000 crore.
