The Excise Department of the State has increased annual excise fees recovered from bars by 15% and 70% for wine shops. On Friday, a gazette notification was issued.
This hike has come at a period of time when the bars and restaurant owners have been seeking a 50% waiver so as to cope with the losses made due to lockdowns in the pandemic.
The fees for bars, earlier, was Rs.6.93 lakh for a year and it has now been revised to Rs.7.97 lakh per year. Earlier, the fees for wine shops were Rs.15 lakh which has now been revised to Rs. 21 lakh.
The apex body of the industry, The Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) has condemned the 15% hike in excise fees and has pointed out that the hospitality industry has badly been hit, majorly the hotel and restaurant segments.
