This story is from July 10, 2020

Liquor prices slashed by 35% in Odisha

Liquor will be available at cheaper prices from Friday as the state government slashed the ‘special Covid fee’ on the maximum retail price (MRP) from 50% to 15%.
Liquor prices slashed by 35% in Odisha
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BHUBANESWAR: Liquor will be available at cheaper prices from Friday as the state government slashed the ‘special Covid fee’ on the maximum retail price (MRP) from 50% to 15%.
The excise department said they revised the Covid fee after taking stock of the liquor prices in other states. “We verified the MRP of liquor in other states, especially in the neighbouring West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
We found that liquor prices are relatively cheaper in the neighbouring states. Apprehending illegal flow of the non-duty paid liquor from other states to Odisha, we decided to revise our MRP of the liquor by rationalizing the rate of special Covid fee,” an excise official said.
The department said the existing 50% special Covid fee on the MRP (2019-20) of all types of liquor has been brought down to 15%. “The brand wise revised MRP of the liquor products will be available in the website of Odisha state beverage corporation (www.osbc.co.in),” the official said.
While introducing online/home delivery of liquor on May 25, the state government levied the special Covid fee and increased the prices of all types of foreign liquor and beer by 50% of the MRPs of 2019-20. Sources said the government earned around Rs 200 crore revenue from the special Covid fee on liquor. Liquorshops, which were shut in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic since March 22, were allowed to sell the alcoholic beverage only through online booking and home delivery from May 25.
“We had been incurring loss as our sale went down following imposition of 50% special Covid fee on the liquor. People, who had been earlier purchasing costly brands, subsequently became choosy and went for less expensive bottles. Now, we hope the buyers will find no problem with 15% hike on the 2019-20 MRPs,” Ranjit Sahoo, a liquor store manager said.
From July 1, the state government allowed counter sale of liquor in addition to the existing online/home delivery system. The sale of liquor across the counters is being allowed only between 7 am and 6 pm. Bars, however, have not been allowed to reopen.
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About the Author
Debabrata Mohapatra

Debabrata Mohapatra is an Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Bhubaneswar. He had been writing for TOI from Puri since 2006 before joining the Bhubaneswar bureau in August 2010. He covers crime, law & order and Congress.

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