Odisha govt urged to reduce special COVID-19 fee on liquor

Bhubaneswar: Manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have urged the Odisha government to allow retailers to sale liquor at outlets and reduce the ‘special COVID-19 fee’.

The state government has imposed a special corona fee of 50 per cent on sale of liquor while allowed online home delivery of the beverages in the state.

The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), in a representation to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, informed that the imposed cess has increased consumer prices by 50 per cent, leading to a drastic fall in liquor sales and a decrease in tax collection.

The CIABC has urged the state government to reduce the special COVID-19 fee to a level that the consumer prices do not go up by more than 10 to 15 per cent.