Liquor to get dearer in Haryana from next month

The cost of liquor in Haryana is set to rise significantly from June 12, following the approval of the 2025–27 excise policy by the state’s council of ministers. The policy, introduced by the Excise and Taxation Department, includes a broad-based increase in excise duties on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), country liquor, and beer, along with a hike in the minimum retail prices (MRP) of several categories of alcoholic beverages.

In a bid to meet a revenue target of ₹14,064 crore for the 2025–26 fiscal year, the state government has raised the excise duty on country liquor (50-degree proof) from ₹82 to ₹91 per proof litre, marking a 10.97 percent increase. A higher-quality variant, metro liquor (65-degree proof), will now attract a duty of ₹106 per proof litre, up from ₹95, reflecting an 11.57 percent hike. The retail price for a quart of country liquor will rise from ₹175 to ₹190, while metro liquor will be priced at ₹240 per quart, up from the previous ₹225.

The new policy has also revised excise duties across the spectrum of IMFL brands. Brands with an ex-distillery price (EDP) of up to ₹1,050 per case will no longer be permitted due to quality concerns. For brands with EDPs ranging from ₹1,051 to ₹7,000 and above, excise duties have been increased on a sliding scale from ₹140 to ₹230 per proof litre, representing hikes between 10 percent and 24 percent. These changes will be accompanied by increases in MRPs, particularly in the lower-priced segments, which will see rises between 1.6 percent and 8.69 percent.

Beer prices are also set to go up, although the excise duty on super mild beer (alcohol content up to 3.5 percent v/v) will remain unchanged at ₹30 per bulk litre. Mild beer (alcohol content above 3.5 percent and up to 5.5 percent) will now attract a duty of ₹52 per bulk litre, up from ₹45, a 15.55 percent rise. For strong beer (alcohol content above 5.5 percent), the duty has increased from ₹55 to ₹62 per bulk litre, a 12.72 percent hike. In the canned beer category, duties on mild and strong variants have been raised as well. Mild canned beer will be taxed at ₹60 per bulk litre, up from ₹55, while strong canned beer will be charged at ₹70 per bulk litre, up from ₹65. Super mild canned beer will continue to be taxed at ₹40 per bulk litre. There will be no change in excise duty on draught beer, cider, wine, or ready-to-drink beverages.

As part of the government’s broader revenue mobilisation strategy, the licence fees for distillers marketing their products in the state have also been doubled. The L-1B licence fee has been increased to ₹62 lakh for distillers whose annual sales in 2024–25 did not exceed 25 lakh proof litres, up from ₹30 lakh. For those with annual sales between 25 lakh and 50 lakh proof litres, the new fee will be ₹145 lakh, a sharp rise from the previous ₹70 lakh.

Excise officials maintain that the updated policy is designed not only to boost state revenues but also to ensure improved quality control in Haryana’s liquor market.