Cigarettes may be banned at duty-free shops, alcohol purchase restricted to one bottle


Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SHP)

New Delhi, Jan 19: The commerce ministry has proposed a new move to reduce the import of non-essential goods, including restricting the purchase of tax-free alcohol to one bottle at duty-free shops.

The ministry has also recommended to its finance counterpart that purchase of cigarette cartons at duty-free shops should be prohibited.

These recommendations are part of proposals made by the commerce ministry for the forthcoming Budget, which would be presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

As of present, the inbound international passengers are allowed to buy two litres of alcohol and a carton of cigarette from duty-free shops. Taking reference from some of the foreign countries that allow only one litre of liquor to international passengers, the ministry is of the opinion that even India should be following the same practice.

This suggestion assumes significance at a time when the government is looking at various ways to curb the import of non-essential goods into the country to rein in the trade deficit, PTI reported.

A duty-free shop is where an inbound international passenger can generally purchase goods worth about Rs 50,000 without paying any import duty.

If sources are to be believed, the commerce ministry has also suggested an increase in customs duty on several products like paper, footwear, rubber items and toys to promote 'Make in India' and boost manufacturing growth.

The ministry has proposed rationalisation of basic customs or import duty on over 300 items from different sectors, including furniture, chemicals, rubber, coated paper and paper boards.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Let them ban Alcohol and Tobacco altogether and let me see how they can run the Government and also How they can fill their own treasuries.....!!!!!!

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Aloysius, Kinnigoli

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Next they will say bring your own bottle to buy the alcohol like those good old days our ancestors used purchasing aarac like 160,180 or 225 mls.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • JK, Udupi/Dubai

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Chilled Kingfisher Beer is the best in India!!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand Kumar, Mangalore/Dubai

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    India will soon be the Hindu equivalent of Saudi, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan.....giving them competition....

    DisAgree [5] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Satya, Mangalore

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Charge unreasonable rents for shops at airports and then restrict their sales by bringing in stupid laws like this.

    No wonder our economy is in a nosedive.

    Everyone right from the top has no clue on how to run the finances of the country and are only experts in making tall and unbelievable statements on how great thnigs are when people are losing jobs, losing business and losing their very means of livelihood.

    Our great Economic ministry has found a great solution : RESTRICT DUTY FREE ALCOHOL PURCHASE TO ONE BOTTLE AND FROM TOMORROW OUR ECONOMY WILL BE NUMBER ONE DUE TO THIS BOLD AND INNOVATIVE STEP. hahahaha. One more Tughlaq law.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dsouza, Mangalore

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    This is what happens when you elect tea boy & company to run the country !!!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aloysius, Kinnigoli

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    They can introduce Pakoda and Chai! with Chaddi waiters.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santosh Bennet VAS, Mangalore'

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    This Government doesn't have a clue about it's priorities on the economic front. Most international passengers can purchase these bottles in DF shops abroad often with better deals or promotion's compared to the DF shops in Indian airports, so the loss is for those who run these shops paying exorbitant rents at airports. This stupid decision to stem trade deficit doesn't make any economic sense as what I've noticed is just about 10 percent of the pqx enter a Duty Free shop in India. There are times I have picked up Alcohol abroad as per the 2 Liter custom's limitation, and then was encouraged to pick up a few more at the Indian Duty Free, with no issues at th custom's, now they are strict sighting Excise rules.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Taste of Devine Drink and politics could be dead enemies.
    Only Bhandarkar would make a right choice.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • John R Lobo, Kaikamba

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Rather than poking their filthy nose, why cant they eradicate worst socials evils...???
    Human trafficking ( women, young girls, children ), infant feticide's,
    Why cant they simplify CrPC. ….?????? Nirbhaya case still running between pillar to Post....???
    Once SC upheld death penalty, How many years required to pass death warrant...….???? Can Union ministry look inti this matter seriously....!!!!!!!

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Any such rules apply to the ministers and higher ups too ?
    Yeddiyurappa is on a official foreign tour. Can any one monitor when he returns?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    One or three bottles from duty free shops but how many days it will last.
    Alcohol is available abundantly if one is ready to pay, including imported brands.
    By limiting the quota they cannot expect people to give up drinks. I am not encouraging alcohol consumption but just reasoning out.
    @ Shankar,
    Would you like join me next time for a break.? (but no politics please)

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • John R Lobo, Kaikamba

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Shankar will not agree for this 1 bottle policy. I am also not agree for non sense policy.

    Politics different than Taste of Devine Drink.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    nobody will bid 4 duty free shop inside the airport

    DisAgree [2] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • John R Lobo, Kaikamba

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    According to BJP Govt Duty free alcohol is Non essential.
    But its essential for Operation Kamala - Cum Resort Parties.
    What a double standard...…….??????

    Its proved that BJP is as worst as other Political Parties...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lily Grace D Silva, Mumbai

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Is there nothing else to do to this Minister? What is wrong in buying 2 litres alcohol. Instead, first look at the shops which sell alcohol in India. Since it is allowed to serve at these shops, people drink and fall on the street as drunkards, making people difficult to walk. First stop this and allow them to carry the bottle home and have it.

    Further, there are many issues which need attention urgently. Youth are jobless, cost of vegetables and non-vegetables are sky rocketed. Women are not safe. Roads are unable to use for driving and walking. It will be good if you change your portfolio and take these and many other causes and serve the people of this country. All the best.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ivan D'Souza, Chikmagalur/Muscat

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    well said Mrs.Lilly Grace D'silva,
    there is lots to done /corrected within the country, which is neglected, instead putting their nose elsewhere.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lawrence, USA

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    One bottle less does not make much difference. Besides, there are quite a few Indian made good liquors are available now. Going local is not a bad idea. VAT 69 was on sale during the Christmas season for a reasonable price of around Rs.1400. 00. I enjoyed it for a change.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Very soon 'Go Mutra' will be sold in all Duty Free Shops in India ...

    DisAgree [15] Agree [65] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    The airports anywhere in the world, add the transportation cost before selling and only the custom duty is not charged. Whether you sell one bottle or two, the variable cost of the shop does not change. Direct cost is already taken care, while the price on the product is arrived at. Hence, I do not know what is the actual problem in selling 2 bottles.

    Coming to International travelers, they will not be affected much anyway. At the boarding airport, one can purchase, one can purchase in the aircraft or at the intermediate stopover, I am never asked to show my passport or ticket to purchase liquor anywhere in the world except in Indian airports. Some airports, I found sell as much as you want, but the problem is, one is allowed only 2 Litres free of customs when you arrive. You can bring more, if you pay customs duty, This is a "Penny wise, pound foolish" idea.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • John, Mumbai

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    I do not understand why we Indians are so much engrossed in banning something which people enjoy. Alcohol is openly sold in Super Markets, Grocery Stores all over the world. India being a democratic country sees it as a big danger to their survival. It shows that we Indians cannot be trusted with drinking alcoholic beverages than our counterparts all over the world. In any European or Asian country there is no restriction on buying, selling, stocking or drinking alcohol. We Indians find a hundred reasons to ban alcohol. Those who can afford to buy and drink should not harassed in putting ban. After all we Indians are paying all the necessary taxes like Income Tax, Sales Tax, Excise Duty, Octroi, GST, Import Duty, Housing Tax etc.... and when it comes to buying, stocking or drinking Alcohol for enjoyment or celebrations, we are restricted. What kind of laws are we making to curtail our own freedom even after we gained our freedom from the British. Even the British did not put ban on us Indians for drinking Alcohol. What should be restricted is tobacco products which causes cancer to not only the user but to others who inhale it. It is good news that cigarettes will be banned at Duty Free Airports. Cigarettes should be banned all over the world as it causes cancer.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [54] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cyril, Mangalore

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    Make a list what is not banned and free.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jack Daniel, dxb

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    Drink swadeshi maal.Kaju,Santra,Mosambi,,extc..

    DisAgree [5] Agree [48] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gerald Dsouza, Puuttur

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    No cigarettes, only beedis, sadhu beedi ganesh beedi shivaji beedis...Bhakt kush.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ronald D, Udupi

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    Now there is restriction on our tastes!!

    DisAgree [10] Agree [56] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mangalore

    Sun, Jan 19 2020

    This Govt. to ban everything

    DisAgree [14] Agree [83] Reply Report Abuse

  • Narendra Kumar, Mangalore

    Mon, Jan 20 2020

    Do they have a spine(backbone) first of all? Everything they try on trial and error basis. Very soon they will allow gomutra at Duty Free Shops because their basic ideology is something different and swadeshi. They want to study their children in Christian or Convent Schools and then send them to U.S or other western countries. But their policies are all swadeshi but not for their children even if the medical treatments!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse


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