Chandigarh, March 7: Consumers in Chandigarh will see a 2% rise in the cost of domestic liquor and beer from the beginning of the new excise year on April 1. The administration’s latest policy focuses on revenue growth while maintaining the existing price structure for imported labels. According to the department, the revenue collection for the current year has already reached ₹863 crore as of late February.
The reserve price for the 97 available liquor vends has been adjusted to ₹454.35 crore. Officials asserted that while the auction system remains largely the same, new safeguards have been implemented to address previous issues where nearly 30 vends were won by members of the same families. The department maintained that the updated rules would strictly regulate bidding to ensure a competitive and transparent process for all participants.
Administrative records show that license fees remain the largest contributor to the state’s earnings, accounting for ₹490 crore in the current period. To further streamline the industry, the government has decided to increase bottling plant operations and maintain existing social levies, such as the cow cess. Officials affirmed that these measures are intended to strengthen regulation without causing significant disruption to the trade.
Representatives of the liquor trade expressed satisfaction with the balanced approach of the new guidelines. They stated that the administration’s decision to maintain key provisions while adjusting for inflation provides much-needed stability. With the new policy in place, the excise department declared its commitment to reaching the ₹950 crore revenue milestone for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
