There will be a hike in liquor rates from 1 August in Andhra Pradesh as the Andhra Pradesh Beverage Corporation Limited (APBCL) has permitted the distillers to hike the rates from August. The prices of medium and high quality brands of liquor will go up by at least 15% from the present rates. This was decided in the meeting held by Price Negotiation Committee of APBCL yesterday on 24 July 2012. Other regular or low brand liquor and beer will continue to be sold at the current prices. The young party goers are surely at loss as they must rethink before buying any premium brands of liquor from now.
According to the sources, the pressure from the manufacturer’s side led the committee to take this decision. Especially manufacturers of premium brand liquors. This decision raked up another issue. The low brand manufacturers are now demanding a price hike for their brands as well. They are completely against this decision and filed a petition against this in the state government. As soon as the report will be submitted to the state govt, it should be approves and will be effective from 1 August 2012.
All the main officials were unavailable to comment about this change in the system. While some feel this is a deceptive move of behalf of APBCL. According to Trade Mark Association Act, the cost of Premium brands should remain same all over the country. But to increase the prices exclusively here in AP, a special scheme is started by the govt. there will be an addition of another name to the tag names and stickers of the original brands.
It is still not sure whether this is legal or not. Certain cheaper brands like Bagpiper will also witness hike in this scheme. And premium brands like DSP, Blender Pride, Teachers and McDowell whisky will shoot up their rates. Few distillers and liquor owners feel that it will not affect their business. The reason is that the main profits are made from cheaper brands of liquor. So does the AP Wine Dealers Association feel.
Tags: Bagpiper cost in AP, APBCL, AP Wineries & Distilleries Association, AP Wine Dealers Association, Andhra Pradesh Beverage Corporation Limited, price hike of liquor, liquor trade in AP