Telangana levies cess on liquor

The Telangana government has approved the re-imposition of a cess on select liquor categories, likely leading to a price hike across the state.

As per a circular issued by Telangana Beverages Corporation Limited (TGBCL) on 17th   May 2025, a "Special Excise Cess (SEC)" of Rs 10 per 180 ml bottle and proportionately on higher sizes  will now apply to all categories of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Foreign Liquor (FL), excluding ordinary liquor, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, and beer.

The revised pricing structure took  effect from 18th  May 2025. TGBCL has instructed all registered IMFL and FL suppliers (excluding the exempted categories) to dispatch stocks with updated MRP rates and to notify all license holders of the changes, as mandated under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.

Sufficient copies of revised MRPs must be kept at all IMFL depots for distribution. This move follows the state government’s recent hike in beer prices by 15 percent to 19 percent, with some popular brands seeing an increase of up to Rs 40.