They will have self-service, tasting, bar room and trade facility too
MUMBAI: You will soon have a facility to taste, drink and trade premium liquor brands from ‘Super Premium’ liquor shops or markets in the state besides the walk-in and self-service facilities. For this, the area of the shop has to be 601 sq meter and above.
In the ‘Elite’ shops with areas between 71 sq meter to 600 sq meter, only walk-in, self service and tasting areas will be available. However, to set up such super premium and elite facilities, the existing shop holders have to go for an upgrade in their existing licenses by paying the additional excise duty.
Thus the experience of buying liquor within the city would be akin to the present duty-free imported liquor markets inside airports, revealed state excise officials.
Similarly, the niche category liquor made from fruits and flowers such as Mohua and green Cashew cover (kaju bond) will be called ‘indigenous’ Indian made foreign liquor (IIMFL) instead of their earlier country liquor category and will thus be available at a wide range of shops to gain a large customer base.
These major decisions related to excise were taken at the Maharashtra cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
“The decision to create a new category of fruit and flower-based liquor will not only encourage entrepreneurship, but will also bring the niche products in the upscale market for larger customers to buy from a range of premium shops. While states like MP have branded them as heritage liquors, we have named them as ‘indigenous’ IMFL,” explained principal secretary of excise department Valsa Nair Singh.
Besides locally home-based processing units, the farmers and labourers in horticulture and floriculture will benefit immensely due to the decision as such liquors will fetch better prices for them, revealed excise officials. Already, the state has allowed such liquors to be used for blending with other fruit-based liquors.
However, Singh said the duty that was earlier charged on fruit and flower based liquor will now change to Rs 50 per bulk litre from earlier Rs 10 per bulk litre. The retailers said with this new branding premium fruit and flower liquors will be available more reliably and at legitimate costs in the upscale city markets. Moreover, all these decisions will earn a bigger revenue for the state.
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