Punjab: 96 per cent groups sold in first draw of lots for liquor vends

CHANDIGARH: Getting positive response on the new excise policy, the Punjab government successfully sold about 96% of groups in the first draw of lots for the allotment of liquor vends held on Wednesday.


Of total 730 groups, about 700 were sold. By doing so, the government collected a revenue of Rs 216 crore through the participation money, which is about 2.5 times higher than the revenue generated last year.

Groups in all the major districts such as Amritsar , Bathinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Faridkot and Fatehgarh Sahib were sold. Second round of draw of lots will be held for the remaining groups.

Punjab government’s decision to give extension to liquor traders, who will be allotted vends for the year 2019-20, in 2020-21 paid off. The decision has led to substantial increase in number of liquor traders taking part in the draw of lots this year, give a push to revenue generation.

The government had received a total of 72,000 applications for 730 groups. In the new excise policy, the non-refundable participation fee was increased from Rs 20,000 in 2018 to Rs 30,000.

Ludhiana district which received 18,773 applications for 713 liquor vends had the highest share of about Rs 56 crore in the total revenue of Rs 216 crore.

Bathinda-based liquor trader Harish Kumar said the government’s decision to extend license next year was one of the major factors for higher participation. “The new policy is good for traders, government and consumers,” said Kumar.

The government aims to generate revenue of Rs 6,201 crore during 2019-20, as against expected revenue of Rs 5,462 crore during the current year, registering an increase of Rs 739 crore.

Additional excise and taxation commissioner Gurtej Singh said the response has been good, which can be gauged from higher number of applications received and revenue generated.

In the new excise policy, the liquor traders will have to lift the quota month-wise as per the fixed ratio. At present, the quota is lifted quarterly. The annual quota for beer has been increased from 2.57 crore bulk litres in 2018-19 to 3 crore bulk litres for next financial year, recording rise of 16%. The quota of country liquor has been increased by 10% from 5.78 crore proof litres to 6.36 crore proof litres while the quota of IMFL has been increased from 2.48 crore proof litres to 2.62 crore proof litres.