With the new excise policy coming into force on Tuesday, the government will own and regulate all the liquor outlets, ending the sale of alcohol in private shops.
Earlier, around 401 shops were functioning in the district and as per the government order, there has been a reduction by 20% in the number. From Tuesday, 321 liquor shops will function in the district, including the 155 in the GVMC limits.
As per a senior excise official, around 300 shops in the district have been taken on lease by the government, including 143 outlets in the city. The remaining shops will be operational in a few days.
Personnel hired
The Prohibition and Excise Department has hired 620 people who will run the shops with one supervisor and three salesmen in the city limits, and 498 for the liquor outlets in the other areas of the district, with one supervisor and two salesmen in each shop.
“There will be no permit rooms at liquor outlets which will remain open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The timings will be strictly followed as the shops are under the control of the government,” said Deputy Commissioner (Prohibition and Excise) T. Srinivasa Rao. A senior excise officer said all liquor brands will be available and adequate measures has been taken to check spurious sale and MRP violations. “In case of some irregularities, people can directly get in touch with the Prohibition and Excise Department,” added Mr. Srinivasa Rao.
The move of not allowing permit rooms at the liquor outlets is being welcomed by the people. “We hope strict regulations pertaining to removal of permit rooms and timings will end the menace of nuisance by tipplers in residential areas surrounding the liquor outlets,” said Mahadev Rao from Marripalem.
