Assam introduces Minimum Guaranteed Revenue for liquor licenses

The Assam government has amended its excise laws by introducing a Minimum Guaranteed Revenue (MGR) for liquor license holders. This new provision requires both wholesale and retail license holders to deposit a fixed amount annually, which is expected to drive up liquor prices by 7-12% starting July 1.

The MGR is an additional charge on top of the existing license fee and Value Added Tax (VAT). Officials from the Excise department indicated that the MGR will be paid on a quarterly basis. The specific MGR amount will be determined by the Excise Commissioner, subject to approval from the State government.

In a related amendment, the government has stipulated that licensees operating under the 'On' category can only sell sealed bottles with a minimum capacity of 750 ml, prohibiting the sale of smaller bottle sizes.