Maharashtra Bars Go Dry on July 14: Massive Protest Against Crippling Tax Hikes!
Over 20,000 bars across Maharashtra will shut down on July 14, 2025, in a statewide bandh to protest the state government’s steep tax hikes, threatening the hospitality industry’s survival.
In a bold move, the Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association (AHAR) has called for a complete shutdown of over 20,000 bars and permit rooms across Maharashtra on July 14, 2025, to protest what they describe as a “triple tax tsunami” imposed by the state government. The bandh, supported by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Hotel and Restaurant Association (Western India), targets a 5% VAT hike on liquor (now 10%), a 15% increase in annual license fees, and a staggering 60% surge in excise duty within a year.
These hikes have pushed the ₹1.5 lakh crore hospitality sector, still recovering from post-COVID challenges, to the brink of collapse, according to AHAR president Sudhakar Shetty. The closure, impacting cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, and Nagpur, aims to pressure the government to roll back these “draconian” taxes, which threaten over 20 lakh direct and indirect jobs and 48,000 vendors.
Shetty warned of mass unemployment, business closures, and a potential rise in illegal liquor smuggling from neighboring states like Goa and Haryana, which offer lower taxes. The industry, contributing ₹36,000 crore annually to state revenue, fears the hikes undermine Maharashtra’s tourism ambitions, especially Mumbai’s push to become a global destination.
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AHAR’s protest follows months of ignored appeals, with Shetty stating, “Our survival is at stake.” The bandh, described as a “silent but powerful” demonstration, could escalate if the government doesn’t act, potentially disrupting the cultural and economic fabric of urban centers.
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