Mumbai, Sept 28: Beer guzzler across Maharashtra could rejoice the DF government's move to make available the milder version of the beverage in departmental stores. The government has issued a notification, under which mild beer could be made available in departmental stores and permits would be given to shops exclusively storing mild beer, Excise Minister Anil Deshmukh said here today.
With this decision, Maharashtra has probably become the only state where mild beer would be available in departmental stores. A similar move in Karnataka some time back had to be rescinded following a widespread public outcry.
Deshmukh, however, clarified that the government in an attempt to discourage consumption of strong beer has decided to levy more excise duty on the alcoholic drink. "With this there will be a difference of Rs 10-12 between strong and mild beer," the minister said.
Claiming that government's move to hike price of the strong beer has a social aspect, Deshmukh said the ratio of sale of strong and mild beer is 70:30 per cent.
He strongly denied that following the government's decision, mild beer will be available even in grocery shops. "It is purely baseless to say that beer can be procured from grocery shops." Meanwhile, officials in the excise department claimed that following the move, the cash-starved government could moblise additional resources to the tune of Rs 50 crore.
Deshmukh, however, refused to give any estimated hike in the revenue saying it all depended on the number of licences issued. Bureau Report