With the new excise policy all set to come into being from October 1 in Andhra Pradesh, liquor shop owners are gearing up to move to other professions in Prakasam district.
Under the new policy, the government has decided to introduce total prohibition in phases by reducing the number of shops by at least 20% each year.
“We have reconciled to the reality of losing business and hence made up our mind to look for other avenues once the new YSR Congress Party government assumed office,” says K. Brahmaiah, who has been in the business for over two decades. He did not renew licence to run the shop in the interregnum (up to September-end). “Now I have secured suitable premises in the Trunk Road for running a footwear shop,” he added.
“We are used to shifting to other businesses earlier also as the lucky ones to run liquor shops will be determined by draw of lots,” added. Another liquor shop owner K. Koteswara Rao, who had been running an outlet in the busy Nellore bus stand area, has now decided to open a restaurant on the busy Kurnool road.
As many as 331 liquor shops were in operation till July-end and only 253 shop owners applied for renewal of their licences to operate for two monthsas the government has decided to introduce total prohibition in phases by reducing the number of shops by at least 20% each year.
From October 1, 265 liquor shops will be run by the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited itself, according to Excise Deputy Commissioner Srimannarayana. As many as 66 retail shops will cease to operate from this month-end, with Ongole accounting for a maximum of 33 shops.
Gearing up for implementing the new excise policy which focuses on running only reduced number of shops for shorter number of hours, he said notification had been issued for appointment of 265 supervisors and 692 salesmen to run the APSBCL outlets. So far 223 supervisors and 500 salesmen were appointed for the purpose. The government is particular that only teetotallers are appointed as staff in the state-run liquor outlets. Under no circumstances tipplers will be appointed as watchmen in these outlets.
Though, women in the past had vied with men for winning licences for liquor shops considering it as similar to any other businesses, the government was against appointing women in the APSBCL shops. The APSBCL shops will be run only between 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The policy aimed at supply of unadulterated liquor to tipplers who had been sufferers because of the menace of spurious liquor.
Under the new Excise policy, Ongole Assembly constituency will have a maximum of 33 retail liquor outlets, followed by Giddalur(27), S.N.Padu(27), Kondepi(26), Addanki(24), Kanigiri(22) Kandukur (19), Darsi(19), Parchur(18), Chirala (18), Markapur(16) and Yerragondapalem(16).
