Chandigarh: Covid cess, higher excise duty push liquor prices up

CHANDIGARH: The administration on Thursday imposed 5% covid cess and hiked excise duty on liquor by 12%. This comes after the imposition of cow cess on May 16. With the hike in excise duty, imposition of cow and Covid cess, liquor prices in the city have gone up by 20% to 25%.
UT adviser Manoj Parida said they have informed the Union government about imposition of Covid cess, which will go to the municipal corporation. The excise duty was hiked with the extension of excise policy and will go to the Centre's fund.
Parida said the move is aimed at generating revenue to make up for the losses suffered by the UT during lockdown. Cow cess has been levied at the rate of Rs 5 per bottle on 750ml of country liquor, Rs 5 per bottle on 650ml of beer and Rs 10 per bottle on 750ml of whisky. It will be deposited by wholesale licencees in the bank account of the municipal corporation.
Recently, the department extended the excise policy from May 15 to June 30 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.