Karnataka - Mysore   

463 new MSIL liquor outlets

MYSORE: The government-owned Mysore Sales International Ltd. (MSIL) has begun the process of opening exclusive retail outlets in district headquarters, towns and villages in the State to sell Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). Demand for liquor has gone up substantially owing to blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of arrack. MSIL’s recent announcement for identifying suitable locations for establishing the outlets has evoked a good response from property owners.

Even as the MSIL, which had been permitted to sell liquor at MRP rates, is opening 463 outlets, including around 30 in Bangalore city, it is identifying suitable locations in district headquarters, towns and rural areas for opening outlets which will sell liquor sourced through Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Ltd.

The government authorised MSIL to open retail liquor outlets in the State following complaints of sale of liquor above MRP rates and failure of licence holders to open shops in some rural areas. With the increase in demand for IMFL due to arrack ban, the Department of Excise had permitted liquor shops to open in every five km, to prevent sale of spurious and illegal liquor. However, some rural areas do not have as many shops.

Following reports that the sale of liquor was more in rural areas than in cities and towns, the MSIL, which was into wholesale liquor sale up to 2003, was permitted to open retail shops. As a first step, the government has permitted it to open 463 outlets.

Speaking to The Hindu, MSIL Special Officer Ramakrishne Gowda said tenders had been invited for establishing outlets having detachable furniture with provision for shifting the outlets to other locations based on the demand. Mr. Gowda said the MSIL supervisors in each district had been directed to identify spots with good potential for liquor sale. “Hopefully, in the next two months, all 463 outlets may start functioning,” he said, and added that the main objective of opening the outlets was to provide liquor at MRP rates.

As per the provisions under the Karnataka Excise Act, Karnataka Beverages Corporation Ltd. will distribute liquor to the MSIL for sale only at these outlets, he added.

Mr. Gowda said there are plans to open two outlets each in 29 districts, two outlets each in 76 taluks and the remaining in hoblis and villages. “Depending on the response to the initiative, a decision on opening more outlets will be taken by the government,” the Special Officer said.

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