Bengaluru: Your morning cuppa — at home or at an eatery — is set to leave a bitter taste, with hotels and eateries across Bengaluru preparing for a hike in beverage and food prices following govt’s decision to increase milk prices by Rs 8 per litre from Nov 1.Hoteliers said the milk price revision comes at a time when they are already struggling with rising costs of rice, sugar, coffee powder, cooking gas and other essentials. “We have been absorbing rising costs for months. The Rs 8 increase is huge,” said Prashanth Raj, director of IDC. “We may be forced to increase prices by at least Rs 5. A revision is inevitable.”Bangalore Hotels Association said Thursday the hike would significantly impact hotels, restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops, where milk consumption is far higher than in households. PC Rao, honorary president of the association, urged govt to reconsider the decision.The association said affordable hotels and darshinis cater largely to daily-wage workers, lower-income groups and the middle class, and any increase would be passed on to consumers. Several darshini owners told TOI that discussions on price revision have already started.Anger boils overTejas PB, regular consumer: A hike of this scale is unimaginable, especially at a time when the job market is struggling and household budgets are already under pressure. For many drivers, daily-wage workers and professionals, a cup of tea or coffee is an affordable source of energy during long working hours. When even a tea-and-bun combination becomes expensive, it will hit the middle class and lower-income groups the hardestAmritha, assistant professor, St Joseph’s University: Though this will strain household budgets, consumers may yet accept hikes if they are assured of quality and if standards are met. Any revision should ensure farmers receive better incentives and fair returnsSamhitha V, advocate: People will stop consuming coffee or tea, but essential commodities must remain affordable. No one should think twice before buying milk. For many professions, including mine, meeting over a cup of tea or coffee is part of everyday life. The state govt should review its decisionMaruthi, private employee: I regularly take milk and other dairy products such as paneer as part of my fitness routine. Salaries and annual increments are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living. This decision alone could increase my monthly spending by around Rs 500. Govt should take a more comprehensive view of how such price hikes affect ordinary citizens before making these decisions
