TASMAC liquor prices may rise by Rs. 10 from October

Liquor prices at Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) retail outlets are expected to increase by Rs. 10 per bottle from the first week of October, according to reports.
TASMAC is the State government’s retail liquor outlet operator in Tamil Nadu. The proposed increase is linked to the government’s move to levy an environmental and social justice charge on liquor bottles to address issues related to the collection and recycling of empty bottles.
The government has amended the relevant Value Added Tax law to facilitate the levy, which can be imposed up to Rs. 20 per bottle. However, a decision has reportedly been taken to increase the price by Rs. 10 per bottle.
A TASMAC official said the additional Rs. 10 would be collected along with the maximum retail price when a liquor bottle is sold. The amount would be refunded when the empty bottle is returned.
The official said the levy allows for an increase of up to Rs. 20 per bottle, but the government has decided to restrict the increase to Rs. 10. Following the proposed revision, no additional amount would be collected over and above the revised bottle price, the official said.
The proposed price revision is expected to be implemented after the by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, according to the official.