CCI Orders Maharashtra Liquor Bodies to Stop Anti-Competitive Practices

• Fair trade regulator CCI directed three Maharashtra liquor trade associations to cease anti-competitive conduct.
• The associations were found fixing prices, margins, and other commercial terms for alcoholic beverages.
• Violations included collectively prescribing retail margins, discounts, payment terms, and transportation charges.
• They also imposed mandatory no-objection certificates (NOCs) for new product launches, violating competition rules.
• Office-bearers of the associations were held liable for facilitating the anti-competitive practices.

Why It Matters: It protects consumers from unfair pricing and limited choices in the liquor market.