The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has written to Maharashtra Government against any plans to lower excise duty on imported liquor in the state as it would adversely affect Indian companies and those employed in it. It has demanded that excise duty should be lowered on Indian made liquor to support domestic industry.

The apex body of the Indian alcoholic beverage industry has written to Maharashtra Excise Department stating that any decision to lower excise duty on imported liquor to make their MRPs competitive with other Indian states would prove to be counterproductive.

“We welcome any move which aims to make consumer prices more affordable as it also invariably benefits the industry by way of higher sales and the government by way of higher tax collection. At the same time, we fail to understand why duty should be reduced only on imported liquor and not on Indian made liquor” CIABC said in its letter.