Beer Pressured: Karnataka Bats For Sale Of More Hard Liquor To Boost Revenues

Government of Karnataka is insisting upon pub owners of Bengaluru to sell more hard liquor like whiskey, rum and scotch since it brings in greater revenue to the excise department. Hence, sale of beer is being sidelined in certain possible ways. Bengaluru is the biggest consumer of beer in the country. Through hard liquor, the state earns a revenue of over Rs 20,000 crore.

Mirror Now quoted Ajith, an owner of a pub in silicon city as saying, “In the past few weeks, customers felt a shortage in availability of beer across many pubs in Bengaluru. The reason is not an acute shortage in production, but due to arbitrary rules being implemented by the excise department. Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited (KSBCL) is the official channel through which alcohol is supplied to various establishments across the city. It is due to the body’s new rule that is forcing pubs to purchase equal quantity of hard liquor, as compared to beer. This is impossible for many since the purchase and sales become difficult. This has to change.”

This new rule has seen objections from various bodies and associations that deal with alcohol merchants. They have asked the excise department to revise the rule.