The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Bill bane for wine shops

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Bill bane for wine shops

Vikram Sharma

Action to be taken if bill is not given

HYDERABAD: Liquor shops in the twin cities will have to hand over a bill along with bottles to their customers. If not, their licenses may be cancelled. The new orders of the excise department also do not allow the shops to sell water and eatables.

The officials have reportedly cancelled licenses of four wine shops in the twin cities in the last couple of days. They have also stepped up vigil on liquor shops. Though the officials maintain that the new rule is meant to check whether liquor is being sold in excess of Maximum Retail Price (MRP), the shop owners say that this rule is meant to take `revenge' on them. The reason: the recent excise policy of the Government that was struck down by the High Court causing embarrassment to the Government.

State directive

"All these years, the excise department only pressurised us to show high liquor sales and pick up more stocks from AP Beverages Corporation Limited. Why this sudden crackdown?" asks a liquor shop owner at Lakdi-Ka-Pul. He says that after the High Court ruling, the Government directed the officials to step up raids on wine shops, if they failed to issue bills and abide by the other rules, which were given a go by earlier.

However, A.V. Narayana, Director (Enforcement), Prohibition and Excise department defends the new initiative. "We only want to ensure that they do not sell liquor at higher price ," he says.

GO issued

In February this year, the Government issued a GO (No. 231) amending rules that included compulsory issuance of bills. The Government reportedly directed the officials to keep a vigil on whether the wine shop owners are maintaining all records, whether they sold eatables or non duty paid liquor. "If the Government wants to implement the rule, it's okay. But, they should give us some time."

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