Excise dept opens 430 liquor shops across State

Guntur: Excise Department opened 430 liquor shops across the State on Sunday. The department planned to open 503 liquor shops during the first phase, out of which the officials found suitable premises for 474 shops so far. The officials opened 430 liquor shops on Sunday and another 44 shops will be opened within two days.

According to highly placed sources in the Excise Department, 777 liquor shop owners have not renewed their licences for three months. Out of these shops, the Excise Department decided to open 503 liquor shops during the first phase.

The government will open another 3,000 liquor shops on October 1 after the new excise policy comes into force. The officials opine that they will get some experience to run liquor shops with the maintenance of 474 liquor shops during this month. This experience would help the department to run more shops from October 1 in the State.

The department decided to strictly implement the timings for the liquor shops. All the government liquor shops will be opened between 10 am to 9 pm. Bars will be open between 10 am and 11 pm.

Liquor shops owned by private persons will be opened between 10 am and 10 pm. As soon as 39 liquor shops opened in Guntur district on Sunday, Excise Superintendent N Balakrishnan and Assistant Excise Superintendent Chandrasekhar went to government liquor shops in Guntur and inspected the shops. They provided suggestions to the officials.

N Balakrishnan said, "Liquor should not be consumed at Excise department liquor shops or on the roads or at a cool drink shop. The liquor bottles should be taken home for consumption. If anybody violates the norms, we will book cases and take stern action."