Karnataka rewrites liquor math: premium scotch, beer 20-25% cheaper; mass IML jumps 20-30% from May 2026
Karnataka becomes first Indian state to tax liquor by alcohol content, collapsing 16 excise slabs to 8 from May 2026. Premium scotch (Chivas, Glenfiddich) and mild beers (Corona, Heineken) get 20-25% cheaper, while mass-market IML brands like McDowell's and Royal Stag rise 20-30%. Reshapes pricing for 131 spirits and 35 beer SKUs.
Karnataka shifts to alcohol-content-based excise from May 2026, collapsing 16 slabs to 8. Premium scotch and mild beer drop 20-25%, while mass-market IML rises 20-30%, reshaping pricing for 131 spirits and 35 beer brands.
Why this matters
Follows Karnataka's debut of India's first alcohol-content-based excise duty, which drew protest from local distillers facing 20-30% price hikes on mass IML brands.
Retail-brand signals steady at 300 in last 90 days, reflecting consistent pricing and policy churn.