The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP,) on the 1st of October, implemented the new liquor policy in Andhra Pradesh.
With the help of the new policy, the State Government is aiming to prohibit alcohol consumption in the State in a phased manner. During the 2019 Assembly elections campaign, the YSRCP promised to make AP an alcohol free state. In an attempt to keep the promise, the State Government implemented the liquor policy.
Recently, on the 28th of September, K. Narayana Swamy, the Excise Minister of AP, addressed a press conference and spoke about the new liquor policy.
Under the new policy, the State Government will supervise all the 3,500 shops established by it. Mr. Narayana said, “AP Beverages Corporation will manage all alcohol shops. So far, 3,448 shops have been taken for lease. The alcohol shops will run between 10:00 A.M., to 9:00 P.M.”
The YSRCP also employed approximately 3,500 supervisors for the shops and 8,033 employees to run the shops, whose licence and other documents will be verified by the Government.
Apart from this, in every wine shop of the State, the State Government would deploy police officers and install CCTV cameras.
In addition, there would be an Additional Retail Excise Tax (ARET) for alcohol consumers from the 1st of October. The Government of Andhra Pradesh will charge ARET varying from Rs. 10 to Rs. 250.
The new liquor policy is a measure by the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy led YSRCP for achieving its goal of making the State alcohol free during the Party’s tenure as the AP Government.
Stay tuned for further updates.
