Karnataka to crack down on illegal liquor from neighbouring states: Boseraju

 Bengaluru, : The Karnataka government has said it will take strict measures to curb the inflow of illegal liquor from neighboring states, which has reportedly affected excise revenue collection in the state.

Replying to a question during the discussion in the Karnataka Legislative Council, senior minister N. S. Boseraju said the government is aware of the issue and has directed officials to intensify enforcement along inter-state borders.

The issue was raised by Congress member Nagaraj Yadav, who pointed out that the excise department had failed to achieve its revenue target this year. He said the decline could not simply be attributed to reduced alcohol consumption but was largely due to the growing supply of illegal liquor entering Karnataka from neighboring states, particularly Goa and Andhra Pradesh.

Yadav said cheaper liquor available in neighboring states has encouraged illegal transportation across the borders, especially in districts located along the inter-state boundaries. He urged the government to strengthen surveillance and ensure that the excise task force functions more effectively to prevent revenue losses.

Responding on behalf of Excise Minister R. B. Thimmapur, Boseraju said the excise department had collected ₹33,370.54 crore between April 2025 and January 2026, while the revenue rose to ₹36,492.47 crore by the end of February. However, the state still recorded a 0.51 percent shortfall compared to the expected revenue target.

He noted that overall alcohol sales had declined during the current year. One of the reasons cited was the unusually high rainfall and cold weather, which affected the sale of beverages such as beer.

Boseraju also pointed out that recent changes in excise policy in Andhra Pradesh led to a reduction in liquor prices there. As a result, cheaper liquor from the neighboring state started entering Karnataka illegally, contributing to the decline in official sales within the state.

The minister said the government has already initiated steps to curb the illegal trade. District commissioners have been assigned greater responsibility to monitor and prevent the transport and sale of illicit liquor.

Authorities have also been instructed to strengthen enforcement drives in border areas to ensure that illegal liquor does not enter the state and affect legitimate sales and revenue collection.