Although the excise duty on alcohol was hiked from April 1, Renukacharya announced it again yesterday creating confusion among consumers

Excise Minister Renukacharya put wine merchants in tight spot by announcing a hike in liquor rates yesterday, although that order was already in effect from April 1. This created a tizzy with consumers assuming that liquor outlets had been charging the hiked rate even before the order was passed and demanded that they be returned the difference that had paid from April 1 onwards.


Representation pic

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who also holds finance portfolio, had proposed a hike in excise duty from 10 per cent to 20 per cent across all 17 slabs in his budget presented in the assembly on February 24. Also, the new rates have been in effect from the first of this month. While Renukacharya was just reiterating the same in a press conference yesterday, it has created confusion among consumers and they think that they have been duped.