Karnataka: The Karnataka government has revised prices of several alcoholic beverages following the implementation of its new Alcohol in Beverage (AiB) taxation policy, which came into effect on May 11.

According to the revised Excise Department pricing structure, prices of several beer and premium whiskey brands have been reduced, while some lower-priced Indian Made Liquor (IML) products have become costlier under the new taxation framework.

Reports indicate that mild and lager beer brands with around 5% alcohol content, including Kingfisher, Budweiser, and Heineken, have seen price reductions ranging from approximately ₹20 to ₹75 depending on the product and volume.

Some premium whiskey products, including Johnnie Walker and Chivas Regal, have also reportedly become cheaper under the revised pricing system.

At the same time, prices of certain lower-end liquor products, particularly small tetra-pack variants commonly sold in lower excise slabs, are expected to increase. Reports suggest that some categories have witnessed price hikes of around 20–25%.

The Karnataka government introduced the AiB taxation policy through the Karnataka Excise (Excise Duties and Fees) (2nd Amendment) Rules, 2026. Officials said the new system calculates excise duty based on alcohol content per litre, replacing the earlier bulk-litre taxation method that had been followed for several decades.

Under the revised structure, the number of excise slabs has also been reduced from 16 to 8 with the aim of simplifying the taxation system.