[Uhmavano]

Even as the authorities plan to extend the timings of bars attached to the staterun Tasmac liquor shops, in a new bid, officials have also started enumeration of air-conditioned bars attached to its retail outlets.
This move is seen as an attempt to augment the revenue earned through bars as the government might increase the tax collected from AC bars.

According to the sources, this move would help them identify the number of licensed bars besides identifying the elite bars. “Though we had not objected to bar owners providing airconditioned facility to Tasmac customers, the exact number of such bars is not available with us, which has prompted us to initiate the enumeration of air-conditioned bars.” Presently, 6,700 Tasmac shops are functioning across the state, of which 4,500 have bar facility. However, a few bar owners have provided AC facility. “We have now decided to have a list

of air-conditioned bars as we felt it would come in handy for maintaining our records,” said an official.
However, sources said this move might be an effort to increase the revenue earned from its bars.

“At present, a flat 2 per cent on the total liquor sales of a Tasmac shop is collected as monthly tax, both for AC and non-AC shops. After the enumeration of AC bars, which has begun, taxes for the AC bars might be increased and enable Tasmac increase its revenue by several crores,” they reasoned.

Tasmac continues to grow year on year with sales of IMFL crossing Rs.14,000 crore during 2010-2011. Besides the tax revenue, it also makes money by selling annual licences to run bars in its outlets.

-dc chn