Karnataka Liquor Price Revised; New Rates of Whisky, Rum, Vodka & Other Alcohols in Bengaluru After 7-Slab AIB

Karnataka consumers will soon notice changes in liquor prices after the state government introduced a new excise duty system that taxes alcoholic beverages based on the actual amount of alcohol they contain rather than solely on brand category or product type. The new framework, known as the Alcohol-in-Beverage (AIB) model, has led to revised Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) across hundreds of whisky, rum, vodka, gin and brandy labels sold in the state.

Karnataka Liquor Price Hike 2026: New AIB Tax System Changes Rates for Royal Stag, Old Monk, McDowell's, Smirnoff and Other Popular Brands

Under the new policy, excise duty is linked more directly to the alcohol content in each bottle. In simple terms, beverages with higher alcohol concentration and premium positioning may attract a different tax treatment than before.

For consumers, the most immediate impact will be visible on retail price tags. The Karnataka Excise Department has already issued updated MRPs for popular bottle sizes, including 90 ml, 180 ml and 750 ml.

The revised pricing affects a broad range of brands-from economy labels to premium spirits such as Royal Stag, Blender's Pride, Signature, Smirnoff, Magic Moments, Old Monk, McDowell's No. 1, DSP Black and Officer's Choice.

Karnataka Divides Liquor Into 7 Price Slabs; 750ml Bottles Classified from Rs 470 to Rs 5,000

To make pricing more structured, the state has divided liquor into seven slabs based on the MRP of a standard 750 ml bottle.

Slab 1: Up to Rs 470
Slab 2: Rs 471 to Rs 520
Slab 3: Rs 521 to Rs 570
Slab 4: Rs 571 to Rs 650
Slab 5: Rs 651 to Rs 750
Slab 6: Rs 751 to Rs 1,300
Slab 7: Rs 1,301 to Rs 5,000

Each slab contains brands with similar pricing levels, and revised rates have been announced for smaller bottle sizes as well.

New Revised Rates of Royal Stag, DSP Black, Officer's Choice Gold, Imperial Blue & Other Alcohol Brands in Bengaluru

Several widely consumed brands have received updated MRPs under the new system. Some of the most notable examples include:

Royal Stag Deluxe Whisky - 750 ml priced at Rs 1,145
Royal Challenge Premium Select Whisky - Rs 1,145
Magic Moments Vodka - Rs 1,260
Blender's Pride Rare Premium Whisky - Rs 1,330
Signature Rare Aged Whisky - Rs 1,330
Smirnoff Triple Distilled Vodka - Rs 1,365
Officer's Choice Gold - Rs 680
Old Monk Rum - 750 ml listed up to Rs 850 depending on variant
Imperial Blue Whisky - Rs 885
McDowell's No. 1 Luxury Select - Rs 885
DSP Black Whisky - Rs 850

Budget brands such as Legacy Special, Carnival, Bangalore Whisky and Original Choice have also seen revised pricing, particularly in the 90 ml and 180 ml segments.

What This Means for Consumers

For most buyers, the change means that liquor prices may increase or decrease depending on the brand and its alcohol content. Consumers do not need to calculate the tax themselves; the final retail price is already reflected in the new MRPs notified by the government.

The biggest takeaway is that bottle prices across Karnataka will now be determined under a more standardised and transparent framework.

The AIB-based model is designed to align taxation more closely with the actual alcohol present in beverages. This approach is intended to create a more rational duty structure and reduce inconsistencies between different categories and strengths of liquor.

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