The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : New policy envisages more liquor shops, bars

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 08, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

New policy envisages more liquor shops, bars

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, FEB. 7. There will be more liquor shops and bars in the State in the coming excise year beginning April.

According to the new excise policy, unveiled by the Government today, the existing retail shop licensees (IL-24 license) would have to apply again as the practice of renewing the old licence has been dispensed with.

The most significant aspect of the new policy is that the Government has decided to grant licences (IL-17) for setting up of bars in places where population is more than 25,000.

Hitherto, in such places only permit rooms have been allowed.

The policy stipulates that there will be 7500 retail outlets in the State as against 6812 licences issued last year. In respect of finalising the number of retail shop licensees, the Commissioner of Excise and Prohibition will take a decision depending on the liquor off-take last year.

A notification is to be issued calling for fresh applications for retail outlets and if the number of applications cross the number of licences to be issued, the authorities would conduct a lottery to select the prospective licensee, sources in the department explained.

The other conditions for issuing a retail licence such as selection or premises among others and the fee structure are not changed.

Fee hiked for clubs

As per the new guidelines, the fee structure for club licences (IL-20) has been revised on the basis of population of the towns and cities they are located. For areas having a population of three lakhs, the fee will be Rs. 3 lakhs.

For cities which have population of more than three lakhs, the fee will be Rs. 6 lakhs. The fee structure has also been enhanced on the same lines for bars and pubs located in the guest houses of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (Licences IL-17A and IL-17B).

In respect of permit rooms, the major change in the policy is that they will not be allowed in places where the population is 25,000 and above and within a belt area of 2 km of such places.

In such places, the Government now proposes to issue bar licences (IL-17).

The bar licences issued during 2004-2005 will be renewed at the option of the licensees and there is no change in the fee structure.

Retail margin cut

The margin for the retail liquor sellers, which was 30 per cent across the board last year, has been slashed.

It will now be 27 per cent on ordinary, 20 per cent on medium and premium brand varieties of Indian liquor and 25 per cent on beer.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh