Friday, August 1, 2003 (Mumbai): The Maharashtra government has decided to increase the price of strong beer and reduce that of mild beer. This will make strong beer costlier by Rs 10 and will make mild beer cheaper in Rs 5. "We have decided to increase the excise on strong beer since more people drink this," says Sushil Kumar Shinde, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

About 60 % of the beer sold is of the strong variety. The government gets a revenue of Rs 200 crore from the sale of beer in the state. The government is also considering a move that mild beer be available like cold drinks at all places. But wine shop owners feel that the change in excise duty will not affect the sale of beer.

"It will have some effect on the sale of beer but we can't predict the effect it will have on the sale of mild beer which is consumed less," sys Suresh Kumar, shop owner. The plan to sell mild beer like a cold drink will be a major decision for the state government. This may lead to increase in consumption of beer among college students.