From 12th October 2026, the price of liquor in Telangana will follow a revision in retail prices for 352 foreign liquor brands. These changes will impact several different categories of imported alcohol such as whisky, vodka, gin etc. While initial reports suggest that the increase will be between INR 30 to INR 100 across all products, other indicators predict that the price of some premium imported spirits and champagnes have become a lot more expensive.
Premium products have seen a significant hike in MRP across categories with a bottle of 21-year-old blended Scotch having gone from INR 25,120 to INR 27,280 while an imported vodka previously sold at INR 4,190 has increased to INR 5,050. Blended Scotch whisky has also risen from INR 4,770 to INR 5,140. A luxury rose champagne priced at INR 1,08,200 for 750ml has risen to INR 1,16,560 showcasing an increase of INR 8,360.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
The primary reason for this shift is the government's attempts to cover selected imported products that were not previously covered under the previous price revisions. These changes have also drawn attention from the India-UK trade agreement.
Import duties are just one part of the alcohol pricing revisions. State level taxes and other pricing requirements are also influenced by the final retain price. There is no single reason for every brand specific increase and these revisions should be interpreted as a uniform tax hike across all categories.
Did you know Telangana leads states in alcohol tax reliance despite slowing growth? Find out why liquor revenue remains so important.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
These revisions don’t impact brands outside the listed 352 brands as the government is in the process of giving out a decision on a separate proposal involving broader liquor pricing details. This distinction will allow brands to operate with a certain level of clarity. This decision is only applicable on select brands and should be considered a category wide exercise.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Consumers will have to brace themselves with the fact that the price of alcohol in Telangana will increase, especially for customers buying foreign liquor brands. The increase will depend not only on the brand name but also on the size of the bottle meaning that any two imported whiskies or vodka’s will also come with different prices. While some products will see smaller increases in pricing, luxury spirits and champagnes are to be substantially more expensive.
For retailers, bars and restaurants, the revised pricing would impact the final cost of the product when told to a customer, therefore customers should keep in mind that checking the revised MRP before purchasing a product will be particularly helpful.
Why are the world's biggest liquor companies urging Telangana to clear INR 3,700 crore in dues? Find out what's behind the dispute.
The information presented in this article has been sourced from reports published by Deccan Chronicle, The Times of India, Hyderabad Mail, and The Hans India. Additional references include the official website of the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department for information related to government notifications and excise regulations.
With these new regulations in place, it remains to be seen how the change in price will influence spending patterns across the category, will they look for substitutes or more affordable brands and how the general industry will react to these changes. While an increase between INR 30 to INR 100 might seem modest and manageable at first, it is the pricing of the more luxury and premium brands that are witnessing significant hikes in price and must rethink their strategy around the consumers.
.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
