Vijayawada, January 14, 2026: The Andhra Pradesh government has eliminated the Additional Retail Excise Tax (ARET) on Indian Made Foreign Liquor and Foreign Liquor supplied to bars from state depots.
Issued through Government Order Ms. No. 24 by Excise Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena, the change amends the relevant 2025 excise rules and removes a levy in place since November 2019.
The tax had created pricing differences for identical products between bars and retail outlets, distorting the market. Before 2019, uniform rates applied statewide.
