CHANDIGARH: Restaurants, bars and hotels can serve customers food and drinks till 3am instead of 1am on payment of additional licence fee, the UT administration on Friday announced in its new excise policy in a bid to promote hospitality industry and make nightlife livelier.
The policy which allows 24-hour service of liquor in three-star and four-star hotels too on payment of additional fee will come into force from April 1.
The policy was approved by the UT administrator, Banwarilal Purohit, after a detailed presentation by adviser Dharam Pal, deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh and others.
The UT introduced e-vehicle cess in pursuance of its e-vehicle policy that will be levied per bottle varying from Rs 2 to Rs 40. Besides, the excise duties were increased by 5.5% and minimum retail sale price in the range of 5% to 10% considering input costs and taxes.
With these new taxes, liquor is likely to cost more by 10% to 20%. To promote low alcoholic drinks, licence fees and duties were increased on beer, wine and RTD (ready to drink) alcoholic beverages.
Considering the request of hotels and restaurant associations and to give support to them, their licence fee was kept the same. To ensure availability of more variety and brands, label/brand registration fees was also kept the same.
