Hyderabad: Tipplers in Telangana state will feel the heat this summer as the state government has decided to increase the prices of beer and foreign liquor. The new prices will come into effect from Monday. The state government will issue orders in a day.

According to sources, the price of lager will increase by Rs 5 a bottle and the price of strong beer will rise by Rs 10 per bottle. All brands of foreign liquor will turn costlier by about Rs 300 to Rs 400 per 750 ml bottle.

The Telangana Beverages Corporation’s general manager issued a circular on Saturday to all chief managers and managers, directing them to not release fresh stocks of liquor from April 4, till further orders, as the prices of these products are under revision.

Following these directions, the Telangana liquor depots did not release any fresh stocks throughout the state to liquor shops on Saturday. They sold the stocks that were available with them.

From Monday onwards, the price of lager beer will increase to Rs 90 from Rs 85 per bottle. The price of strong beer will increase to Rs 105 from Rs 95 per bottle. Consumers have to pay Rs 300 to Rs 400 more for a 750 ml bottle of foreign liquor.

The Andhra Pradesh government had increased the price of beer three months back as per the request of manufacturers.

The AP government too had increased Rs 5 for lager beer and Rs 10 for strong beer. But AP government did not increase the price of foreign liquor.

In Telangana state also, the manufacturers had then requested the government to increase beer prices. But the Telangana government did not increase prices as it wanted to take a decision after knowing the AP government’s decision.

Meanwhile, some liquor shop dealers in Telangana started collecting the increased rates on Saturday itself.

Liquor shop dealers have only limited stocks with them as the Beverages Corporation did not release fresh stocks. Some liquor shop dealers have used this opportunity to collect more money from consumers.