The Andhra Pradesh Government, on the 26th of October, released a Government Order (GO,) regarding a ban on liquor.
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) decided to ban the import of alcohol from other states.
The Andhra Pradesh Excise Department released a new GO on importing liquor from other states without permits and licenses.
Initially shopkeepers were allowed to get three bottles of liquor, but now no import of alcohol from different states are allowed.
From now onwards, bringing alcohol from other states without a permit would be a punishable offence. The punishment is legal under the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act.
The major reason behind the ban is to curb alcohol trafficking and make Andhra Pradesh an alcohol free State. After the State Government announced an increase of a whopping 75 % in price, cases of alcohol trafficking from states like Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Odisha were reported.
In addition, liquor from outside the state is being transported into Andhra Pradesh without payment of duty, fees and others taxes.
The alcohol trafficking was also resulting in loss of revenue to the exchequer of Andhra Pradesh.
With this, the State Government also decided to announce a phased ban on alcohol to achieve an alcohol free State.
Stay tuned for further updates.
