Karnataka asks beer makers to halt third shift operations

The Karnataka government has asked top beer makers to stop third shift operations (10 pm to 6 am) at their breweries citing shortage of full-time excise officials and staff. Third shift operations in a few breweries in the state were approved in the state in September and October.

The excise department of Karnataka has withdrawn third shift operation permission that was earlier given to four breweries in Mysuru. According to 6th December letter by the excise department, third shift operations have to stop at United Breweries, AB InBev, Carlsberg and B9 Beverages (Bira). The letter cited shortage of excise staff in the entire Mysuru district.

In the current fiscal, the excise revenue target of Karnataka is Rs. 36,000 crore. Between April and November, the government mopped up Rs. 22,157.25 crore. Much of this is from IML at Rs. 17,864.48 crore against beer's Rs. 3,515.76 crore.