The Senate, on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to suspend the planned excise duty increase on locally produced alcoholic beverages set to go into effect on June 4th. The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly said that the increase which would raise the excise duty rate on alcoholic beverages from the current rate of 20% to 67% represents a 300% increase and should be suspended until there is a better understanding of the new policy by all stakeholders in the interest of the national economy.