A recent bar bill in Jodhpur showing a 20% cow cess on liquor has gone viral, sparking online debate about the surcharge. The Rajasthan government and hotel authorities clarified that this tax has been in place since 2018 and is levied on all liquor sales to support cow conservation and cow shelters in the state.
Viral Bill Details
The incident occurred at Geoffrey’s Bar, Park Plaza, Jodhpur, where a customer ordered corn fritters and six beers on September 30, 2025.
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Order total: ₹2,650
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After GST, VAT, and 20% cow cess: ₹3,262
The bill explicitly mentioned the cow cess, leading many social media users to question the charge.
Hotel Clarifies Cow Cess Is Not New
The hotel’s manager, Nikhil Prem, told NDTV:
“The cow cess has been collected on liquor sales since 2018. We deposit it online for cow protection and conservation. This surcharge is only applied to beer and liquor, not food items.”
He explained that the cess is calculated on the VAT portion of liquor sales. While most hotels call it a surcharge, Park Plaza labels it cow cess for transparency.
How the Cow Cess Works
Rajasthan Finance Secretary (Revenue) Kumar Pal Gautam explained:
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The cow cess is a surcharge on value-added liquor sales.
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When liquor is sold above MRP, the value addition attracts VAT, and the 20% cow cess is added.
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The surcharge is specific to liquor and beer, while food items only attract GST.
Historical Background of the Cess
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On June 22, 2018, the Vasundhara Raje government introduced a 20% cow cess on foreign liquor, Indian-made foreign liquor, country liquor, and beer under the Rajasthan VAT Act, 2003.
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Earlier, the surcharge was 10% before being extended to support cow shelters and promote cow conservation.
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The Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot continued the cess.
Government Spending on Cow Protection
The Rajasthan government spends over ₹2,000 crore annually on grants and subsidies for cow welfare, including:
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₹600 crore for cow shelters
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The remainder through government funds alongside the cow cess
The cess contributes to, but does not fully cover, the entire cow conservation budget.
Conclusion
The 20% cow cess on liquor in Rajasthan is a long-standing surcharge aimed at funding cow protection and shelters. While it may surprise some customers, it is legally mandated and transparently collected by hotels and bars, ensuring continued support for cow welfare initiatives in the state.
