To,
The Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
Shri Devendra Fadnavis,
Government of Maharashtra

Subject: Petition to Protest and Demand an Immediate Rollback of the Unjustified and Punitive Increase in Liquor Taxes in Maharashtra

Dear Mr. Chief Minister,

We, the undersigned citizens, taxpayers, and residents of Maharashtra, are writing to express our collective outrage and strong opposition to the recent state cabinet decision to drastically increase the excise duty on liquor and beer. While we understand the state's need for revenue, the government's plan to extract an additional ₹14,000 crore by targeting the common citizen's pursuit of relaxation and social life is unjust, short-sighted, and punitive.

This petition outlines why this tax hike is a grave misstep that will harm citizens and businesses alike.

1. A Direct Attack on the Mental Wellbeing of Citizens
In a state with high-pressure, fast-paced urban centers like Mumbai and Pune, life is incredibly stressful. For many hardworking men and women, sharing a drink with friends or family is a legitimate and vital way to de-stress, unwind, and maintain mental wellbeing. Alcohol, when consumed responsibly, serves as a recreational item that facilitates social bonding. To penalize this simple act of relaxation with exorbitant taxes is to place a direct financial burden on the mental health of your citizens. This policy shows a profound disconnect from the daily realities of the people you govern.

2. A Sign of Incompetent and Lazy Governance
Resorting to a "sin tax" hike is the easiest and laziest method of revenue generation, and it signals a failure of your government to pursue more innovative and sustainable economic policies. Instead of punishing consumers, why has the government not focused on:

Improving GST Collection Efficiency: Plugging the significant leakages in the GST system would yield substantial revenue without targeting a single industry.

Taxing Ultra-Luxury Goods and Real Estate: Introduce a higher tax bracket for luxury cars, designer goods, and super-prime real estate transactions in cities like Mumbai.

Boosting Industrial Growth: Create a more favorable environment for manufacturing and service industries to widen the overall tax base, rather than squeezing more from the existing one.

Curbing Corruption: A sincere effort to reduce corruption within government departments would save thousands of crores annually.

Targeting liquor consumers is a tacit admission that your government is incapable of generating revenue through sound economic management.

3. The Injustice of Double Taxation on Hard-Earned Money
As responsible citizens, we already pay high rates of income tax on our earnings. The money we use for discretionary spending, including socializing, is our post-tax income. To levy such a heavy excise duty on a legal product is a form of double taxation. You are taxing the money we have already been taxed on. This is an unethical and exploitative approach to public finance.

4. Crippling the Hospitality Industry and Making Family Outings Unaffordable
This tax hike will have a devastating effect on the restaurant and hospitality industry, which is a massive employer in our state. Consumers are already burdened with inflated prices. A bottle of liquor sold at an MRP in a store is often marked up by 300% or more in a restaurant. On top of this, we pay GST and service charges.

This new tax will be the final nail in the coffin. Going out for a family dinner or a social gathering will no longer be a pleasant experience; it will become a stressful calculation of exorbitant costs. You are actively discouraging the very social culture that makes our cities vibrant and hurting thousands of small and large businesses in the process.

Public Protests Work:

Across the world and in India, citizens have successfully resisted such unfair tax policies. In places like Scotland, public and industry backlash against punitive alcohol pricing has forced the government to constantly defend and reconsider its policies. State governments in India have also been forced to roll back tax hikes when faced with united opposition from consumers and businesses, who rightly warn of collapsing sales, job losses, and the dangerous rise of a black market for illicit, unregulated alcohol. Your government must listen before it is too late.

Our Demand and Call to Action

We demand an immediate and complete rollback of this unjustified increase in excise duty on alcohol.

We call upon the proud and hardworking people of Maharashtra, especially in our major cities of Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik, to stand united against this tax tyranny. There is only one language this government will understand: a direct impact on its projected revenue.

We urge every citizen to BOYCOTT DINING AT RESTAURANTS AND PUBS that serve liquor. Let the empty tables and silent cash registers send a clear message. We are not slaves to be taxed at your whim. Let us show the government that their attempt to fill their coffers by emptying our pockets can backfire spectacularly. When restaurant sales plummet and liquor store businesses face closure due to a lack of demand, the government will be forced to see that their precious ₹14,000 crore will never materialize.

This boycott is our power. Let's use it to bring the hospitality business to a standstill and force the government to listen.

We will not pay for your fiscal mismanagement.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Citizens and Taxpayers of Maharashtra