Prohibition, which had been in force for about 20 years in Mysore, is being scrapped throughout the State, with minor exceptions, with effect from September 1. The announcement of the repeal of prohibition was made here [Bangalore] to-day [August 23] by the Finance and Excise Minister, Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde, on the eve of his departure from Bangalore on an eight-week world tour. A small segment of the State, comprising mostly the border strips would, however, continue to be dry. These areas are the whole of Bidar district. Ankola, Kumta, and Honnavar taluks in north Kanara district, Jamkhandi taluk of Bijapur district and Chamarajnagar and Yelandur taluks of Mysore district. Even in these dry pockets, liquor with low alcoholic content (like beer) can be sold freely. Interestingly enough, the Prohibition law itself still continues despite the erosion of its scope. The additional revenue following scrapping of Prohibition would be between Rs. 3 ½ crores and Rs. 4 crores a year (to start with) the Finance Minister said. Prohibition had been in force in 16 of the 19 districts of the State. The scrapping is being done in terms of the Mysore Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 1967, which conferred powers on the Government to repeal Prohibition in any area it chose to specify. The State Legislature had passed the amending bill only last month. Mr. Hegde said that consequent on the repeal of Prohibition the Government was considering the question of making arrangements for the sale of arrack and toddy in sealed bottles (by vendors) as a measure against adulteration, short weight, and other malpractices.
