NEWS
INDIA’S MAHARASTRA STATE PROPOSES TO ALLOW SUPERMARKETS TO SELL WINES
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
4-8-2021
Credit: Renzo D'Souza/Unsplash
India’s Maharastra’s state government has proposed to allow department stores or supermarkets to sell wines under a new policy, according to a report in Hindustan Times.
Besides allowing sales in retail outlets, the policy also proposes to allow private establishments to open wine bars, where just wine can be sold. At the moment, only wineries can open such retail outlet.
Wine festivals and tasting sessions may also get a boost with a new daily licence worth Rp3,000 being launched.
At present, the organisers of such events have to seek a temporary one-day licence, which covers all categories of liquor, but costs a steeper Rp10,000.
A proposal to impose a nominal excise duty of 10 percent on wine is in the pipeline as part of this policy.
If implemented, the new policy will end the 20-year tax holiday (in force till end of December) for wine made from grapes produced in Maharashtra, where India’s biggest wine region Nashik and business capital Mumbai situate.
State excise department officials said the new policy will focus on creating new marketing channels to promote wine sales.
The state government is considering to divert some of the tax collected to a “wine board” for the promotion of quality and marketing of wines.
“Walk-in retailers such as department stores and supermarkets may stock wine in separate wine racks,” an official told Hindustan Times.
A notification is likely to be issued this month and other elements of the policy may be announced soon.
The government will define the “walk-in retailer” category as it covers a wide range of retail outlets, including grocery shops that go beyond the usual over-the-counter sales.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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