Liquor sales decline up to 60% in May-June in states with high Corona cess: Report

States which imposed more than 50 percent COVID-cess on liquor after the resumption of retail trade post lockdown witnessed an average 59 percent decline in sales in May and June due to higher tariffs, a report by trade association Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) claimed.

States as Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, J&K, and Pudducherry, which had imposed a COVID-cess of 50 percent and above reported a decline of 66 percent in May and 51 percent in June compared to the year-ago period, the report by CIABC.

While, states as Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Kerala, and Jharkhand, which had imposed a COVID-cess between 15-50 percent reported an average decline of 34 percent in sales, the report stated.

However, states where up to 15 percent additional cess was imposed, witnessed only 16 percent decline in May and June, which includes Uttarakhand, UP, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Assam, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Punjab.

While pan India, there was a decline of 25 percent and 15 percent respectively in May and June this year, totaling to 4.37 crore cases. It was 5.87 crore cases in 2019 in the same month. After the retail sales of liquor were resumed after six weeks of closure in May, several state governments facing a shortage of financial resources imposed a higher tax on alcoholic beverages.

"However, it has repeatedly pointed out that taxation, beyond a point, becomes counterproductive," said CIABC. States, which were lower-taxed, have a stronger sales recovery in the month of June.

"The idea of various state governments to quickly make up for revenue deficit due to lockdown through heavy taxation on sale of liquor has backfired. The latest data shows that states which imposed heavy Corona cess on liquor saw sale of booze going down by more than half during relaxation in lockdown," it added. According to CIABC Director-General Vinod Giri: "Liquor industry contributes around Rs 2.5 lakh crore in tax revenues to state governments, but this fiscal this collection is likely to see a fall and sales are going to see a downfall of 25-30 percent,"

High taxation in some states has led to steep fall in the sale of liquor, while the delay by the government in opening bars and restaurants, which account for up to 10 percent of liquor sales, will further aggravate the situation, he added. "This in effect conveys that tax increases most likely did not lead to an increase in tax collection in absolute terms. This clearly indicates that levying of hefty Corona tax did not lead to an increase in total tax collection. In fact, the trend in sales recovery in June, when unlocking began, was stronger in states that imposed lower tax increases," he said.

He also pointed out that the liquor industry was subjected to a longer lockdown compared to most other consumer products. It was permitted to restart trade by the central government after six weeks of total closure. Many state governments, Odisha, Punjab, Kerala, restricted sale from retail outlets due to local lockdowns even after it was permitted by the central government. It was permitted to restart trade by the central government after six weeks of total closure. Many state governments, Odisha, Punjab, Kerala, restricted sale from retail outlets due to local lockdowns even after it was permitted by the central government.

Further, bars, restaurants, and other on-premise shops that contribute up to 10 percent of liquor, and much more of the beer and wines sales have remained shut. "We hope that the governments take note of the data and bring tax increases down to moderate and sustainable levels, ideally below 10 percent. That will not only bring relief to consumers, it will also help the industry sell more and the government collects more taxes. The governments should also consider the impact of price increase on sales before applying tax increases in annual excise policy as well," Giri added.

CIABC is an association of the Indian alcoholic beverage industry.