Beer offer price: HC posts hearing to May 12

Cuttack: The hearing of the case filed by five beverage companies in Orissa High Court, scheduled to be held today, has been postponed to May 12.

The liquor firms are in a long-running deadlock over offer price of beer set by the Excise department and have refrained from signing agreement with the government.

The leading liquor brands are opposing the reduction in offer price to the extent of 20 per cent in the new excise policy of the State. They feel that the stiff cut in the offer price would result in business loss of over Rs 100 crore per annum.

Though the government has hinted at revising the reduction in offer price to 10 per cent, stalemate continues as the brewers are yet to sign agreements. Excise minister Damodar Rout has said that if necessary, changes will be made in the excise policy.