Liquor businessmen express concerns with Karnataka government

Liquor businessmen have alleged that they have become a source of revenue extraction in light of the implementation of the guarantee schemes by the Congress government. They have claimed that unrealistic targets have been set for them. The revenue target by the excise department was hiked to ₹ 36,000 crore in the budget earlier this year. Chief minister Siddaramaiah increased duty on all 18 slabs of Indian Made Liquor (IML) by 20% and on beer by 10 %. They are gearing up for a protest against the government. A meeting has been arranged for liquor businessmen across the city on October 5th. 

The agenda of the meeting would involve a discussion concerning the new policies of the government in this domain. The businessmen feel that the targets being imposed are unscientific. They have also stated grievances concerning heavy bribes being demanded for the issuance of licences. The issue of renewal of licences would also be discussed. They also have complaints of extortion being carried under the guise of RTI activism threatening to cancel their license.