Allow an affordable drink for common man – Booze makers appeal to Govt.

17 May 2023 06:45 am - 29 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Considering the exorbitant prices of booze and a sharp drop in demand for consumption, the top liquor manufacturers in the country have recently made a request from the government to allow an affordable drink for the common man, sources said.

This has been transpired at a special meeting held between a group of leading liquor manufacturers and the senior officials of the Ministry of Finance last week with the participation of the officials of the Department of Excise.

At the meeting, the parties discussed the soaring liquor prices and the recent media reports of liquor consumption seeing a sharp drop, an official who was present at the meeting told the Daily Mirror.

The manufactures have brought to the notice of the State Minister of Finance that their overall sales have dropped by 40% in the recent months owing to the ever escalating prices of local spirits occurred as a result of government increasing taxes on booze.

A 750ml bottle of one of the cheapest of local spirits popularly known among the consumers as ‘Gal’ or ‘Gal Arrack’ is priced at Rs.3, 000 at present after all the government taxes and a quarter of the same is priced at Rs.750.

They pointed out the fact whether a common man or a daily paid labourer could afford a quarter of arrack for Rs.750, thus they would resort to cheaper alternatives like illicit spirits or Kasippu, which is hazardous to health.

The manufactures have requested from the State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya to allow them to introduce a much affordable drink to the consumers, which could be priced between the popular Gal arrack and Kasippu.

To this the Minister has not responded either positively or negatively, the Daily Mirror learns.

Present government taxation on alcoholic beverages are extremely high that 85% of the price of a bottle of local arrack is consisted of direct and indirect taxes, a senior official at the Department of Excise said. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)

Comments - 29

Enough of alcohol mafia to cause more drunkedness Wednesday, 17 May 2023 07:02 AM

If the government is making enough revenue from alcohol sales things are fine. And even if they are not, encouraging drinking by reducing prices will cause more suffering. More people will die of vehicle accidents, more fights, more violence and lot of other social problems. Alcohol mafia only want profits without a care for the well-being of our citizens at all. They might as well be Ganga merchants.

Citizen k Wednesday, 17 May 2023 08:57 AM

The poor man drinks to forget his woes.The rich man drinks to show his prestige by the choice of liquor.wife beating,accidents,fights rapes are common to both..I rest my case.

Nimal Wednesday, 17 May 2023 09:44 AM

If you don't enjoy a drink, then don't think everyone else is the same. This is the SL mentality. Is the biggest damaged to people done by alcoholic drinks? Are you really awake? SL has to learn a lot from countries like Thailand and other Asian countries. Even in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country has alcoholic drinks available. All this company is saying is to allow affordable drinks like beer etc. Otherwise they will drink illicit liquor.

Naralowa Holman Wednesday, 17 May 2023 10:10 AM

How many hospitalize for drinking kassipu and other low-grade drinks and how much does the government pay back for medication? What government slogan - Don't drink, don't eat, don't travel, don't enjoy.. blaa blaa. Nothing for ordinary people. What is the slogan of common people - Un kanwa bonawa, API naya gewanawa - They eat, they drink, they enjoy their life. we pay the debt.

Booze makers want profits not any benefit to society Wednesday, 17 May 2023 08:11 AM

What do the booze makers have to say about the bad effects of alcohol consumption. They just pretend like it doesn't exist and want to make lots of money, like drug dealers. Taxation of dangerous goods like cigarettes and alcohol is to dissuade society from their addictive consumption. Well done to reduce alcohol consumption by raising prices, and it should continue on.

WE SHOULD BAN LIQUR PRODUCTION Wednesday, 17 May 2023 08:17 AM

People drink less or nothing because they want, and not the price factor. More people are health concern.

Cecil Hedwige Wednesday, 17 May 2023 08:39 AM

It is not encouraging people by reducing prices but to ensure that these same people who consume on a regular basis to look for other sources like kassippu or moonshine which is distilled illegally,They might also engage in smuggling liquor from India.

roni Wednesday, 17 May 2023 08:41 AM

So it appears the Govt is intoxicated and is serving with burdening the mases with taxes. When the budget comes around the only tool the FM has is cigarettes and liquor.

sam Wednesday, 17 May 2023 08:44 AM

Solution is to reduce the govt taxes by half.

Saradial Wednesday, 17 May 2023 09:07 AM

Every government used tobacco and alcohol to cover huge budget deficits but the limit has gone out of control and the drinkers and the drinkers have turned to other options.

Thomas Dharmachanra Wednesday, 17 May 2023 09:17 AM

Sri Lanka is a Majority Buddhist country, where Buddhism teaches not to consume harmful liquor for the body and well being of the society. WHY NOT BRING A TOTAL PROHIBITION for the betterment of the citizens of the country

Realist Wednesday, 17 May 2023 09:52 AM

This request is timely. On one hand, you can't promote tourism and not have an inexpensive drink for them to enjoy. Many Sri Lankans are still living in archaic times with archaic beliefs and religious thoughts. Go and see countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia and witness how far they have progressed on this. SL either has very expensive places for rich people to enjoy a drink or kassippu for others. There is nothing in between. If the SL purists are against people having a drink, they can ban the whole thing and fill that revenue gap from their own pockets. Then SL traditionalists can live in their little hole. If SL Police can't control drunkards, then that is a law enforcement issue. Has SL Police been able to solve any problems as it is now? People, go and travel the world and see how other countries do things.

P.P. Perumal (Labourer) Wednesday, 17 May 2023 10:30 AM

True, the poor labourer works hard with sweat cannot afford to buy arrack for Rs. 750/- and he will go for illicit liquor. It's better to manufacture a hard liquor similar to Gal for a very reasonable price Rs. 300/- (for quarter) Rs. 600/- (for half) and Rs. 1200/- (per bottle)

Koswatte Jude Wednesday, 17 May 2023 10:35 AM

Very mad decision the Govt. made to increase the prices of Local

lakmal Wednesday, 17 May 2023 10:58 AM

Before that establish proper laws to punish for domestic violence related to alcohol.

Tom Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:40 PM

The good governance make people the most important contributors first without any questions Sri Lanka does other way around giving greaf to the people who stimulate the economy one way or another what happens if no people to contribute can the 225 make the journey if all have little TLC towards the people of this nation this country can make a huge difference to have a better tomorrow and the future majority people are the strugglers pls take care of them first with little comfort peace and happiness

Tom Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:40 PM

The good governance make people the most important contributors first without any questions Sri Lanka does other way around giving greaf to the people who stimulate the economy one way or another what happens if no people to contribute can the 225 make the journey if all have little TLC towards the people of this nation this country can make a huge difference to have a better tomorrow and the future majority people are the strugglers pls take care of them first with little comfort peace and happiness

Tom Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:40 PM

The good governance make people the most important contributors first without any questions Sri Lanka does other way around giving greaf to the people who stimulate the economy one way or another what happens if no people to contribute can the 225 make the journey if all have little TLC towards the people of this nation this country can make a huge difference to have a better tomorrow and the future majority people are the strugglers pls take care of them first with little comfort peace and happiness

Tom Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:40 PM

The good governance make people the most important contributors first without any questions Sri Lanka does other way around giving greaf to the people who stimulate the economy one way or another what happens if no people to contribute can the 225 make the journey if all have little TLC towards the people of this nation this country can make a huge difference to have a better tomorrow and the future majority people are the strugglers pls take care of them first with little comfort peace and happiness

Tom Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:40 PM

The good governance make people the most important contributors first without any questions Sri Lanka does other way around giving greaf to the people who stimulate the economy one way or another what happens if no people to contribute can the 225 make the journey if all have little TLC towards the people of this nation this country can make a huge difference to have a better tomorrow and the future majority people are the strugglers pls take care of them first with little comfort peace and happiness

Tom Wednesday, 17 May 2023 12:40 PM

The good governance make people the most important contributors first without any questions Sri Lanka does other way around giving greaf to the people who stimulate the economy one way or another what happens if no people to contribute can the 225 make the journey if all have little TLC towards the people of this nation this country can make a huge difference to have a better tomorrow and the future majority people are the strugglers pls take care of them first with little comfort peace and happiness

Sokrates Wednesday, 17 May 2023 01:39 PM

@Thomas Dharmachanra. You close your eyes to reality. Lord Buddha only prohibited his monks from consuming alcohol; however, many monks in Sri Lanka do not adhere to this prohibition. For everyone else, Lord Buddha only recommended not to drink alcohol. In hindsight, a prohibition such as that in the United States from 1920 to 1933 only helped the mafia to reach the peak of its power. Not a drop of alcohol was less drunk. Since you only need water, sugar and yeast to produce alcohol, alcohol is drunk even in Saudi, but despite the ban, container loads of alcohol are imported for the Saudi royal family every month. Sri Lanka has a failed alcohol policy that only encourages corruption and crime.

Punchi Wednesday, 17 May 2023 05:55 PM

We need to have cheap alcoholic drinks to give our goon gangs to build up Dutch courage to carry out the atrocities, killings and rapes we organise against our fellow citizens

xcxoxrxk Wednesday, 17 May 2023 06:49 PM

Cheap alcohol is poison; it will kill both the rich and the poor alike. It would be better to legalize ganja, as it costs no more than other herbs to grow and has never killed anyone.

Bhagawaan Thursday, 18 May 2023 12:33 AM

I think we are on the right track The tourism minister wants Marijuana to be Legalized These guys want everyone to drink

GHT Thursday, 18 May 2023 12:41 AM

Yeah, give, common man BOOZE in a OOZING manner on cheaper price to kill his wife and children, before committing himself suicide.

Shera Thursday, 18 May 2023 05:20 AM

Buddhist country. Where are the monks to advise the govt?

Wolves shedding tears Thursday, 18 May 2023 08:14 AM

Liquor manufacturers came in their luxury vehicles and others came similarly for the meeting. All of them shed tears for the plight of common man who spend his small pay to keep all these people in comfort. They all love the consumers so much for the money. You want us to believe them?

NightOwl Thursday, 18 May 2023 09:51 AM

At this pressing times, best way to act is increase the price further and make it a super luxury for common man. introducing cheaper version will result in families suffering without any cash left for susrvival

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Allow an affordable drink for common man – Booze makers appeal to Govt.

Comments - 29

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