Maharashtra is contemplating imposing excise duty starting from the new year. This means that the wine consumers will now have to pay more for domestically produced wine in the state.
Maharashtra is working on a new policy for the wines made from grapes produced in the state as the present ones will be expiring by the end of this year. It is expected for the policy to be tabled before the cabinet meeting this month.
A senior government official said that a marginal rate of excise duty which will be around 10% per bulk liter, may be levied. The government official said, “If this rate is finalized, it will translate into a nominal rise in the MRP at an average of Rs.10 per bottle containing 750 ml wine.”
