Residents of Ranchi have been facing dissatisfaction with the prices of India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands. The state department of excise and prohibitions increased the prices of these brands over a year ago in an effort to boost revenue. Adding to their displeasure, the operators of the city’s retail IMFL stores have been charging them extra on the maximum retail prices (MRP).
Jharkhand State Beverage Corporation Limited (JSBCL), a state-owned entity, has been operating around 120 IMFL and country liquor stores in Ranchi and its surrounding areas for over a year now. While owned by JSBCL, the day-to-day operations of these stores are managed by personnel hired from a Bihar-based replacement agency.
Several residents have expressed their grievances regarding the pricing of the liquor. “I have noticed that a 175 ml bottle of whiskey, which is supposed to be priced between Rs 170 and Rs 190, consistently costs me an additional Rs 10 at the liquor shop in my locality,” shared Binod Choudhary, a resident of Hindpiri.
This overpricing issue extends across most IMFL stores in the city. “Regardless of whether it’s whiskey, vodka, or rum, the shopkeepers charge an extra Rs 10 for a 175 ml bottle. Even beer cans are priced Rs 10 above the MRP. Furthermore, larger bottles, such as 350 ml or 750 ml, are costing Rs 20-Rs 40 more regardless of their brand. To make matters worse, the store operators have removed the billboards containing the excise department’s helpline number for lodging complaints,” complained Brajesh Kumar, a resident of Ratu Road.
