Public comments invited on draft amendments to the Karnataka Excise (Bottling of Liquor) Rules by 8th May, 2022

The Government of Karnataka has proposed the Draft Karnataka Excise (Bottling of Liquor) (Amendment) Rules, 2022 (“Draft Rules”) in order to further amend the Karnataka Excise (Bottling of Liquor) Rules, 1967 (“Principal Rules”).

Objections and suggestions are invited on the Draft Rules till 8th May 2022. Such objections / suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Finance Department, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru – 01.

Key Highlights:

• Licensee is required to pay a fee of Rupees ten thousand (10,000) for approval of label of each brand of Beer produced in a Craft brewery within the State.

• In the event of death of the licensee or lessee during the currency of the licence or lease, the legal heir may get the Bottling license transferred in his/her name by making an application to the Excise Commissioner, subject to the condition that he / she is eligible for the grant of such licence under the Act or Rules.

• A licensee may transfer the Bottling license along with all the infrastructure pertaining to the industry to any person of his/her choice, upon payment of a transfer fee i.e., twenty-five percent (25%) of the annual licence fees levied for grant of Bottling licence to the Distillery, Brewery, Fortified Winery and Winery, subject to the condition that the person to whom license is transferred must be eligible to hold such license as per the Principle Rule or Act.

• In case of transfer of a Bottling license, an additional fee i.e., fifteen percent (15%) of the licence transfer fee, shall be levied for the purpose of various infrastructure projects across the State, equity investment in Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited and for establishing a Mukya Mantri Grameena Raste Abhivruddhi Nidhi.

A copy of the Notification is linked below for ease of reference.

Source: Government of Karnataka