Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, May 18: The Karnataka Congress government continues to raise prices across various sectors, leaving the public burdened by repeated hikes. After the recent increase in the prices of beer and Indian Made Liquor (IML), the state government has now dealt another blow—this time to liquor retailers. In a fresh move, the annual license fee for liquor shops and bars has been substantially increased, nearly doubling in several categories. A government notification to this effect has been issued, including cess and other charges, resulting in an overall hike of about 100 percent.

For instance, the license fee for CL-9 category (Bar and Restaurants) was earlier Rs 8,62,000. It has now been raised to Rs 15,00,000. Additionally, a cess of Rs 2,25,000 is levied, bringing the total to Rs 17,25,000.

For CL-6A license holders (applicable to star hotels serving liquor), the previous fee of Rs 9,75,000 has now been increased to Rs 20,00,000. Along with a cess of Rs 3,00,000, the total comes to Rs 23,00,000.

In the case of CL-7 licenses (meant for hotels and lodges), the fee has been raised from Rs 9,75,000 to Rs 17,00,000. With a cess of Rs 2,55,000, the total amount payable now stands at Rs 19,55,000.

Reacting to the development, honorary president of the Bengaluru Hotel Owners' Association, P C Rao, expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “The government has already increased the prices of essential commodities including water and electricity. Now it has raised the license fees for bars and restaurants. We contribute Rs 110 crore daily, and Rs 40,000 crore annually to the excise department. In this context, the license fee hike is unscientific and unreasonable.”