📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Amitbalani
Business
Maharashtra's Old Monk Ban Costs State ₹350 Cr, Brand Loses ₹500 Cr
✍️ Business Standard
🗓 13 Oct 2026, 03:03 PM
👁 12
The Maharashtra government’s prohibition of Old Monk liquor sales has cost it ₹350 crore, while the brand has suffered a ₹500 crore loss.
The Maharashtra government has imposed a ban on the sale of Old Monk, a popular spiced rum, citing concerns over illicit liquor and public health. The decision has resulted in a direct financial hit of ₹350 crore to the state’s coffers.
Old Monk, a brand owned by the company behind the rum, has reported a loss of ₹500 crore due to the sudden halt in sales across the state. The company attributes the loss to the abrupt cessation of distribution and the loss of revenue from a significant market segment.
The ban follows a series of regulatory actions aimed at curbing the sale of unlicensed alcohol. Officials say the move is part of a broader strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve public safety.
While the state government has not yet announced a plan to lift the ban, it has stated that the decision was made after a thorough review of the situation and in consultation with health and law‑enforcement agencies.
Old Monk, a brand owned by the company behind the rum, has reported a loss of ₹500 crore due to the sudden halt in sales across the state. The company attributes the loss to the abrupt cessation of distribution and the loss of revenue from a significant market segment.
The ban follows a series of regulatory actions aimed at curbing the sale of unlicensed alcohol. Officials say the move is part of a broader strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve public safety.
While the state government has not yet announced a plan to lift the ban, it has stated that the decision was made after a thorough review of the situation and in consultation with health and law‑enforcement agencies.