GUWAHATI: Wine shops in Guwahati were not operating on Friday, December 10 during the afternoons hampering alcohol consumers on their weekend pursuits. Residents of the city are baffled as to why wine shops were not selling alcohol today.
The reason is due to the new price list of alcohol that is set to begin from December 10. The Assam government had previously hiked the rates of excise duty for certain categories of alcohol. As per the notification issued in the Assam Gazette on December 3, amendments have been made to the Assam Excise Rules, 2016. The new prices of alcohol have come into effect from December 10, 2021.
Since wine shops had not received the revised price list, they were unable to sell alcohol. Further, there are allegations that people have resorted to buying alcohol in the black market. However, the availability of alcohol is there in various bars and pubs in the city.