As a result, the price of 750 ml ‘Red Label’ whiskey being sold at supermarkets has come down by Rs. 1,100 to Rs. 4,550 per bottle, down from Rs. 5,650.

The price of ‘Black Label’ whiskey been reduced by around Rs. 850 per bottle, from Rs. 8,400 to Rs. 7,550.

The Vat whiskey price too, has come down by Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,500 per bottle.

The budget proposes a mandatory safety sticker on every liquor bottle, liquor manufacturing license to be issued for Rs. 150 million and to charge a monthly fee of Rs. 250 million from distilleries and Rs. 50 million from liquor-only manufacturers.

Tax on arrack is more than Rs. 1,000 per bottle

The budget has raised the price of a bottle of arrack by Rs. 150, and within a short period, the price of a 750 ml bottle of arrack has gone up by nearly Rs. 200.

According to Excise Department sources, the tax on a bottle of arrack is more than Rs. 1,000.

As a result, the sale of illicit liquor has risen, with some people resorting to use gas in order to distill liquor at home.