Partial prohibition on cheap liquor demanded

‘Government should not view liquor as a source of income’

The TRS government has done well to eradicate 98% of ‘gudumba’ (illicit liquor brewing) in the State, but it has opened the floodgates of cheap liquor, equally hazardous to public health, said Opposition members.

The government should not view liquor as an important source of income and bring in partial prohibition and order an inquiry into the free availability of cheap liquor. Those weaned from gudumba preparation should be rehabilitated with attractive livelihood options and it should be made part of the government policy under gudumba eradication, said Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy. Initiating a short discussion on ‘Eradication of Gudumba and Rehabilitation Measures’ in the Legislative Council here on Tuesday, Mr. Reddy said the Excise Department allowed event management companies, function halls, and clubs to directly procure liquor from shops and serve it on their premises instead of procuring it from the Beverages Corporation. There were about 15,000 function halls, clubs etc., that should take permit licence to serve liquor.

This had resulted in loss of ₹1,000 crore to the State and the Accountant-General wrote to the State, seeking details of permits given to various establishments by charging 15% privilege fee.

He also said there was no mechanism to ensure that liquor was not served to those below 21 years of age and such unregulated operations were resulting in youngsters consuming liquor and indulging in rash driving, causing fatal accidents.

Liquor policy

BJP member N. Ramachandra Rao said about 4,000 families in Dhoolpet and various tandas in Adilabad and Warangal were involved in gudumba business and these families should be rehabilitated. Eradicating gudumba but allowing free flow of cheap liquor would take a serious toll on public health and would affect the entire young generation.

The government should restrict the sale of liquor to limited hours and the liquor policy should be modified accordingly. TRS members M.S. Prabhakar Rao and Kasireddy Narayan Reddy lauded the government for curbing gudumba consumption and rehabilitating those involved in the trade, by giving ₹2 lakh each to help them eke out a living through other means.