A.P. CM tells officials to crack the whip on sale of illicit liquor

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered the Excise Department officials to stop the sale of liquor brands that found their way into the market through dubious channels and to ensure that only national and international quality brands are available to the consumers. 

Noting that the market was flooded with fake liquor brands, which posed grave health hazards during the YSR Congress Party’s (YSRCP) tenure, the Chief Minister also wanted the officials to crack down on the sales of non-duty paid liquor or illicit brews.

Addressing a review meeting on the Excise Department on Monday, Mr. Naidu said that the fake liquor brands caused a huge dent to the public exchequer, besides spoiling the health of lakhs of consumers.

“The new liquor policy being implemented by the NDA government has given a boost to revenues, which used to flow into the neighbouring States during the YSRCP’s tenure. The liquor brands that used to be made in distilleries that belonged to the YSRCP leaders have vanished now,” Mr. Naidu said. 

The Officials informed the Chief Minister that ‘anonymous liquor brands’ were no longer available and that all the leading brands are being sold now. Up to 68% of the liquor in the market consisted of unbranded products previously. 

Mr. Naidu said that liquor prices had fallen for the first time in the history of the Excise Department after the NDA government assumned the office.

The officials said that prices had been reduced by ₹10 to ₹100, depending on the brand and that the prices of the top 30 liquor brands in the State were lowered when compared to the prices in the neighbouring States of Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. 

Mr. Naidu instructed the officials to take a decision on allowing permit rooms after the committee constituted by the government submitted its recommendation. The officials pointed out that the lack of permit rooms was encouraging people to consume liquor in public places, which was affecting the law and order. 

He asked the officials to permit setting up microbreweries at tourist places to encourage tourism, and to do real-time tracking of vehicle movements from distilleries to the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation and from there to retail stores, by using modern technologies.

Every vehicle transporting liquor stock should be equipped with GPS devices, he added.

Digital payment

Besides, the Chief Minister called for the promotion of digital payments and stressed the need for tighter vigil aimed at curbing the menace of belt shops.

Excise Department Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena and other senior officials took part in the review meeting.