The Assam and the Meghalaya governments on Friday hiked the liquor prices in Assam and Meghalaya by 25 per cent on Friday,
“The Assam government has decided to hike the liquor prices in Assam by 25 per cent,” informed Assam industry and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in a press meet.
He said that the revised prices will become effective from Friday midnight.
The hike in liquor prices in Meghalaya was informed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in a tweet.
“A hike of 25 per cent on the maximum retail price for the liquor has been approved by the government effective from midnight of May 8, 2020,” Sangma tweeted.
“This has been done in order to generate additional Excise revenue to meet the unexpected financial burden/expenditure arising out of COVID-19,” the tweet added.
A hike of 25 % on the maximum retail price for liquor has been approved by the Government effective from midnight of 8th May, 2020 in order to generate additional Excise revenue to meet the unexpected financial burden/expenditure arising out of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/Tx01HrNjCf
— CMO Meghalaya (@CMO_Meghalaya) May 8, 2020
Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday has hinted that liquor prices in Assam could be raised.
“We are working together with Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh to increase liquor prices,” Sarma said on Thursday.
“The three states are working together to increase the liquor prices as only one state increasing it will not yield much result,” Sarma had further said.
Reportedly, several states across the country have decided to hike liquor prices to meet the economic challenges faced due to the nationwide lockdown.
Delhi hiked the liquor prices by 70 per cent.
Andhra Pradesh hiked the price of alcohol by 75 per cent through an increase in excise duty.
In West Bengal, the price was increased by 30 per cent while in Rajasthan, alcohol price was hiked by 10 per cent.
Karnataka, on the fourth day after the sale of alcohol resumed, witnessed a sharp decline in sales after the government hiked retail prices of liquor by 17 per cent.