Punjab government greenlights its new Excise Policy for 2026-27, aiming to collect a revenue of ₹12,800, which is more than the double of ₹6,200 crore collected in the year 2022 when AAP government came to power.
Existing liquor retail license holders can renew their licenses with a 6.5% increase in fees.
Licenses not renewed will be given out through a transparent e-tender process.
Stage duties, label fees, and bottling plant license fees have all been increased.
For the first time, rules now allow single malt (malt) manufacturing units in Punjab, letting them both distill and bottle within the state.
The fee hike applies to all three stages: manufacturing, wholesale, and retail.
Since there is going to be higher fees and duties at every stage, the liquor prices are expected to go up in the state. The government’s target for 2026-27 is ₹12,800 crore, up from ₹11,020 crore last fiscal year. As per the statement made by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema informs that so far, the state has already collected over ₹11,200 crore this year.