Hotels can sell water, soft drinks above MRP at tables: HRAWI

Hotels and restaurants can sell mineral water and aerated drinks above the maximum retail price unless it is sold over the counter, The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India said today.

"HRAWI, in a bid to remove any ambiguity over selling water, aerated drinks and similar commodities above the MRP, has issued a circular to its members clarifying that hotels and restaurants could continue to sell the same above the MRP," the Association said in a statement issued here.

"However, if such commodities are being sold over the counter then it is advised that they be sold at MRP only," it added.

The circular was issued in response to queries posed by members after media reports quoted Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan saying that selling water and aerated drinks above MRP could attract fine and a jail term.

HRAWI is a member association in the western region of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), the apex body of hotels and restaurants in the country.

"As per the present law, there is no such legal repercussion that can prosecute a hotel or restaurant for the sale of either packaged drinking water or aerated drinks or any such commodity above the MRP while being served in the premises i.e inside hotels and restaurants," FHRAI and HRAWI Chairman - Legal Matters sub-committee and HRAWI Secretary Pradeep Shetty said.

"So we have advised our members that they can continue selling at suitable rates as the MRP law applies to retailers only," Shetty added.