Liquor Price Hike : Shock for drinkers! Liquor expensive from April 1; more money to be paid for a bottle

This news is certainly going to be shocking for alcohol lovers. After the Uttar Pradesh government approved the new excise policy, the prices of country liquor in the state are going to increase. From April 1, the excise duty on country liquor with 36 percent alcohol has been increased from 165 rupees per liter to 173 rupees. This increase will directly affect the consumers' pockets, and they may have to pay up to five rupees more per bottle on average.

The state government has stated that this decision was made with the aim of increasing revenue and boosting the industry. The excise department has set a revenue target of 71,278 crore rupees for the financial year 2026-27. It is estimated that the increase in duty on country liquor will yield an additional revenue of approximately 1,500 crore rupees.

Notably, this decision will not affect all types of alcohol. Currently, there has been no change in the prices of other categories of liquor. However, the revenue from retail stores of foreign liquor has been increased by 7.5 percent. This may result in the state earning more income from the sale of foreign liquor.

According to the new policy, considering the decline in the consumption of domestic liquor in urban areas, the quota of shops in those areas will be reduced. Conversely, the quota of domestic liquor shops in rural areas will be increased. According to the government, this change will strengthen the rural economy and benefit local industries.

In addition, bar licenses for low-alcohol beverages—such as beer, wine, and ready-to-drink (RTD)—will be issued in major cities like Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Agra, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Lucknow. It is said that the intention behind this decision is to promote tourism and attract the young customer base.

Meanwhile, the license fee for cannabis shops has been increased by 10 percent. However, the fee on wine and lower-strength beverages has been reduced, leaving only a symbolic duty of 0.1 percent. The government claims this will financially benefit fruit-producing farmers. Overall, although the new excise policy of the state government will require alcohol enthusiasts to pay more, it is clear that the government is focused on revenue growth, boosting the rural economy, and industrial growth.