CM Siddaramaiah assures to review liquor licence fee hike

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has assured the Federation of Wine Merchants’ Association that their demand for rolling back the recent liquor licence fee hike will be examined.

The assurance came after a delegation from the federation submitted a memorandum in Bengaluru on Monday, urging withdrawal of the draft notification issued on May 15 that proposed steep increases in licence fees.

The merchants expressed concern that the hike had reached up to 100 percent in some cases, calling it unprecedented. They argued that the increase has negatively impacted liquor sales and urged the government to reconsider the hike.

The Chief Minister assured the delegation that he would discuss their concerns with the Excise and Finance Departments and take an appropriate decision.