Over 3,300 liquor shops run by the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited were opened on Tuesday, in a first of its kind initiative by the State government towards streamlining the sales over counters.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Prohibition & Excise Commissioner M.M. Nayak said that as part of the government’s Navaratnalu promises, the number of liquor shops had been brought down from 3,500 from 4,380. He said that on Tuesday, 3,317 shops were opened in the State and the remaining would be opened soon.
Restriction
He said proposals were sent to the government to reduce the number of beer bottles a person could possess or buy, from six to three. He said that the department would use the services of 14,944 Mahila Constables recruited for the Ward and Village secretariats to enforce situation at the liquor stores. Excise Enforcement Director P. Hari Kumar said that 31 check posts and 18 border mobile teams would be strengthened. Besides 93 enforcement teams and task force teams would be established soon with a focus on illicitly distilled liquor.
He said PD Act would be invoked on persons who get caught thrice for offences related to liquor in six months. APSBCL Managing Director V. Vasudeva Reddy and others were present.
