Members of the hospitality industry plan to protest the recent tax hike on air-conditioned restaurants serving liquor

Looking forward to watching the IPL matches with a glass of chilled beer, in the air-conditioned environs of your favourite restaurant? Chances are you might have to forego the AC bit, thanks to the 10.3 per cent service tax on air conditioned restaurants serving liquor, and the hiked excise duty on various liquor products.
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Spirit dampener: Hotels and restaurants screening the IPL matches
plan to switch off their air conditioners. File pic

So as not to lose customers, restaurants in the city are planning to switch off their air conditioners. Sudhakar Shetty, president of Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), confirmed the same, saying, "With the service taxes shooting up, we have been receiving constant calls from our members asking if air-conditioners should be removed from the restaurants."

Khushal Bhandari, president of the Thane Hotel and Restaurant Association (THARA), echoed Shetty's claim. "More than 100 small bar and restaurant owners in our association have decided to remove the air-conditioners from their restaurants, fearing that they will incur heavy losses once the new tax structure is imposed on the industry in the next few days."