Hike in liquor rates, bar licences: Going out for a drink to cost more in Gurgaon

GURGAON: Going out to drink liquor, or to buy it, is set to get more expensive from next month in the city. Haryana govt this week released its new excise policy — this time till March 2027, instead of the typical fiscal year — substantially hiking annual fees for bars and restaurants along with base price of liquor.The licence fee for bars at five-star hotels goes up from Rs 30 lakh (four quarters of a year) to Rs 85 lakh (seven quarters).At four-star hotels, this hike is from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 60 lakh. For standalone establishments, it will go up from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 45 lakh.Most types of liquor, from beer to whiskey, went up from Rs 50 to Rs 100 per bottle. For instance, the base price of mild and strong beer increased by Rs 54 per case. Canned beer went up Rs 60 per case, but draught beer's cost remains the same.A hike in import fees also prompted the state to increase brand and label registration fees for whisky and scotch by Rs 4 lakh, run by Rs 1.7 lakh, gin and vodka by 1 lakh, wine by Rs 20,000 and beer by Rs 2.5 lakh.Under the new policy, restaurants and bars will have to pay higher additional fees to operate beyond midnight – from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh to stay open till 2am, and from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7.5 lakh for every additional hour after that. Beyond the base price of liquor — assessment fee, permit fee and retail fee — have been increased too. Whisky will attract Rs 75 for every bulk litre (BL) as assessment fee, Rs 25 per BL as permit fee and Rs 20 per BL as retail fee.The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) expressed concerns about the cumulative impact of Haryana's new excise policy on the hospitality sector. "The increase in bar licence fees, alongside sharp hikes in supply costs and extended-hour charges, significantly escalates the cost of doing business in Haryana. These changes not only put financial strain on thousands of restaurants, bars and hotels, but risk discouraging responsible, regulated consumption also. Globally, govts are encouraging consumption in monitored hospitality settings," said Rahul Singh, trustee, NRAI. He also said the restaurant and nightlife ecosystem is a major employer and contributes meaningfully to revenues and tourism. "We strongly urge the Haryana govt to engage in constructive dialogue with the industry to find a more balanced, sustainable framework — one that ensures revenue goals are met without stifling business or alienating consumers," he said, adding that the increase in prices came as a surprise to the industry."The proposed hike in beer prices will be a sharp jolt for both consumers and the hospitality industry. While we understand the state's intent to align pricing with neighbouring regions and enhance revenue, the timing — coinciding with peak summer beer demand — is concerning," Singh, who is also founder and CEO of The Beer Cafe, said.