CHANDIGARH: The UT administration is considering extending bar timings from 1 am to 2 am in the city, a suggestion the Chandigarh Hospitality Association members had made recently apart from lowering the drinking age limit from 25 to 21 years.
Sources said the UT officials will prepare a proposal, which will be taken up before the UT adviser and deputy commissioner who further discuss it with the UT administrator. “The proposal will be implemented only after the approval of the UT administrator,” said a senior official dealing with the excise policy.
The excise and taxation department on August 2 last year had suspended the liquor licence of a club in Industrial Area, Phase I, for keeping the premises and bar open after 1am. The department had sought suggestions from hoteliers and wine merchants’ body before finalising the policy. In the meeting with deputy commissioner Mandip Brar, the hoteliers had submitted the suggestions.
The administration is also considering increasing prices of premium brands of whisky and beer by 10% to 15% in the next excise policy, which will come into force from April 1. Sources in the administration said the officials were contemplating a hike in the prices of whisky and beer and those of wine and beer at microbreweries were likely to go down.
In the current excise policy, the prices of premium brands of whisky had gone up by around 20%. However, the rates of beer and wine had remained unchanged and those of beer at microbrewery had gone down.
According to the administration, the 2019-20 excise policy would help it earn a revenue Rs 600 crore as compared to Rs 510 crore in 2018-19.
Sources said the UT officials will prepare a proposal, which will be taken up before the UT adviser and deputy commissioner who further discuss it with the UT administrator. “The proposal will be implemented only after the approval of the UT administrator,” said a senior official dealing with the excise policy.
The excise and taxation department on August 2 last year had suspended the liquor licence of a club in Industrial Area, Phase I, for keeping the premises and bar open after 1am. The department had sought suggestions from hoteliers and wine merchants’ body before finalising the policy. In the meeting with deputy commissioner Mandip Brar, the hoteliers had submitted the suggestions.
The administration is also considering increasing prices of premium brands of whisky and beer by 10% to 15% in the next excise policy, which will come into force from April 1. Sources in the administration said the officials were contemplating a hike in the prices of whisky and beer and those of wine and beer at microbreweries were likely to go down.
In the current excise policy, the prices of premium brands of whisky had gone up by around 20%. However, the rates of beer and wine had remained unchanged and those of beer at microbrewery had gone down.
According to the administration, the 2019-20 excise policy would help it earn a revenue Rs 600 crore as compared to Rs 510 crore in 2018-19.
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