Bengaluru: As declared by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the budget, the excise duty has been increased by 8% from April 1 and with this liquor will be costlier from April 1.

The price of the liquor which comes between slab 2 and 18 will be costlier and the price of cheaper brands will remain same. Raja Whisky, Windsor, Haywards, Jocky and many other brands come under cheaper priced liquors. Though the price of liquor changes from April 1, there will not be any change in the price of Beer.

However, liquor companies can change their slab. The companies may decide in which slab their name should be included, can fix the rate and get approval from the Excise Department. At the same rate, the Karnataka State Beverages Corporation provides liquor.

The Excise Department wanted to collect an income of Rs.18,050 cr for the year 2017-18. An excise duty of 6% on cheaper liquor and a duty of 15% to 21% was imposed on the costlier liquor. So, the department expected an income more than it had anticipated. But, as per the Supreme Court order, all the liquor shops beside the highway were closed for three months from July. It was a big blow to the department and because of collapse in the liquor business, the income decreased by Rs.450 crores than the expectation.

In 2018-19, by increasing the duty by 8%, the Excise Department has an aim of collecting Rs.18,750 crores in the year.