Thiruvananthapuram: In the budget presentation for the year 2024–25, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal has implemented a series of taxes aimed at filling the treasury. The measures outlined in the budget are contributing to a rise in the cost of living and imposing a price hike for alcoholic beverages. The excise duty on Indian-made foreign liquor has surged by Rs 10 per litre.
The government plans to collect Rs. 200 crore through this excise duty adjustment, which will come into effect immediately. The specific brands that will witness a price increase are yet to be disclosed.
This is not the first time that the cost of liquor has faced upward adjustments, as a similar measure was undertaken in the previous budget presentation. During that period, the increase was labelled as the social security cess, with an additional levy of Rs 20 per bottle imposed on Indian-made foreign liquor priced between Rs 500 and Rs 999. Liquor exceeding the Rs 1,000 price mark incurred a higher social security cess of Rs 40 per bottle.
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