State accounts for 65% of ₹1,000 crore turnover in country’s wine industry

Maharashtra allows sale of wine in supermarkets, grocery shops

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Thursday decided to allow sale of wine at supermarkets and grocery shops operating from premises with an area more than 1,000 square feet.

“Wine bottles can be sold in supermarkets or shops with area more than 1,000 square feet where the operators will be allowed to have a stall for wines. The decision will give a boost to fruit-based wineries which provide additional income to farmers and wine producers in the State,” said Minister for Skill Development Nawab Malik after a meeting of the State Cabinet.

A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said “shelf-in-shop” method will be adopted in supermarkets and walk-in-stores which have area of 100 sq mt or more and which are registered under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act. Supermarkets will have to be pay a fee of ₹5,000 for selling wine.

However supermarkets which are close to places of worship or educational institutions cannot sell wine. Further, sale of wine will not be allowed in the districts where prohibition is in force.

As per the existing policy in the State, wine bottles can be sold only in approved liquor stores. Under the new policy, the State government will charge ₹10 as excise duty per bulk litre production on all types of wine bottles.

According to data, the wine industry has a turnover of around ₹1,000 crore in India, of which Maharashtra’s share is 65%. The industry is largely concentrated in Nasik, followed by Sangli, and Pune.