KOLKATA: Tipplers across the city have been vying for ‘old stocks’ and are switching brands after hard liquor prices rose by another 15%-20% translating to a steep rise of around 40%-50% from pre-Covid times.
Although the price revision came into effect at the start of this month, shops across the city started selling at the new rates only from the middle of this week after the new stocks arrived. This has put tipplers in a spot of bother at the onset of the winter when hard liquor becomes the most favoured drink. There have been reports of arguments between off-shop owners and the because of unchanged stickers on some of the liquor brands supplied from Bevco even after November 3, when the state distribution arm resumed operations after two days’ closure.
“On Thursday, I visited five shops in Central Kolkata looking for old stocks, which are still being sold at old prices. I finally found only one bottle at a Bowbazar off shop but had to buy another bottle at the new price. I don’t think it is justified to increase the price of liquor by close to 50% since the pandemic. The pandemic has also affected us and I believe the authorities should consider that too,” said Manoj Dutta, who works at a private firm in Dalhousie.
Income tax lawyer Sinchan Saha, who loves his whisky and tequila and was all set to stock up his home cellar for the festive month, said he is now considering to scale down his taste and look for some cheaper brands. The state government, like many others, had imposed 30% Covid tax on all liquor, including beer, from April 7. This had led to a 35%-40% drop in IMFL demand and over 85% fall in beer demand.
In mid-August, the state excise department decided to abolish the Covid tax and introduce a slab-based ad valorem structure. The new tax structure introduced on November 1 is based on ex-distillery price (EDP) and ex-brewery price (EBP). The new rates were supposed to be implemented from September, but were kept on hold following apprehensions of a further price hike by brands and liquor bodies.
Off-shop owners across the city said, the price rise has had a direct impact on the sale of liquor. “We had good business during the Puja and with most people staying at home, we were hoping for better sales during Diwali. But the price rise has led to many of my regular customers shy away or choosing lower brands,” said an off-shop owner in Tollygunge.
Restaurant and bar owners said that although they were yet to hike their liquor prices, it was inevitable in the coming weeks. “It couldn’t have come at a worse time. We are banking on our stocks to defer a price revision. But we are going to run out of stocks soon since liquor supply has been low since last week,” said a Park Street restaurant owner.