Administration lowers spirits of 10 hotels, bars, issues notice

The UT excise and taxation department on Monday issued show-cause notices to 10 hotels, including JW Mariott, restaurants and liquor vends for violating the excise policy.

Additional excise and taxation commissioner Rakesh Popli said the violators were asked to submit their reply by August 2. The violations include selling liquor without holograms, not maintain stock of liquor, holding private parties without obtaining licence from the department and allowing private liquor on hotel premises, he said.

In JW Mariott hotel, an excise department team had found 12 bottles of Chivas Regal, 10 bottles of Cragganmore, seven bottles of Rowson’s Reserve, four bottles of Clynelsih and one bottle of Antiquity without the hologram. The Rowson’s Reserve brand of whisky has not been approved by the excise department for sale in Chandigarh.

On July 23, a penalty of Rs 3 lakh was slapped by the department on two liquor vends for violating the excise policy. Jubilee Beverages Limited, Maloya, was fined Rs 2 lakh for undercutting and selling liquor without holograms. Similarly, Pradeep Kumar, who runs a liquor vend in Mauli Jagran, was fined Rs 1 lakh for selling liquor on discounted rates and keeping liquor stock without hologram.

While finalising the excise policy for current financial year, the UT administration had turned down the plea of hoteliers and liquor vend owners to reduce violation penalty amount.

Like previous years, the administration had kept the Excise Act violation penalty Rs 1 lakh for first violation and Rs 2 lakh for second violation.

According to the excise policy, “In case of non-maintaining the minimum retail sale price by the retail sale, Rs 1 lakh as penalty will be imposed by the competent authority for the first time and Rs 2 lakh for the second time. Thereafter, if any violation of non-maintenance of minimum retail sale price is detected, the retail sale licence of that licensing unit will automatically be suspended on detection of breach for the day of detection and two days following it.”

Source:-https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/grocery/administration-lowers-spirits-of-10-hotels-bars-issues-notice/70447633