KCR mulls foreign liquor stores in Hyderabad malls

Hyderabad: If Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has his way, Hyderabad will soon have exclusive foreign liquor outlets. The Telangana Prohibition and Excise department is working out the modalities for opening a few exclusive foreign liquor stores in malls and other places.

The Chief Minister has instructed Prohibition and Excise commissioner Dr R.V. Chandravadan to work out the modalities of opening the foreign liquor outlets which will go towards building a global image for the city of Hyderabad and also the state’s new industrial policy.

Confirming the news, Dr Chandravadan said, “The Chief Minister has instructed us to work out the modalities of opening some exclusive foreign liquor outlets. They will sell only branded foreign liquors. We plan to have at least 100 top brands. It is still being worked out whether they will be government or private outlets.”

Asked about the number of outlets planned, he said that the plan was still in a formative stage and that it would take some time to finalise.

To a question, he said that the Telangana State Beverages Corporation was already importing foreign liquor through agents in India and selling them through existing IMFL retail outlets.

The beverage corporation had sold foreign liquor worth Rs 54.26 crore from June 2014 till March 2015 out of the roughly Rs 10,000 crore IMFL sales.

“Though foreign liquor sale is limited, there is a demand. Sale of branded foreign liquor through government outlets will check smuggling to a large extent and will also ensure quality products,” he added.

The excise commissioner said some importers of foreign liquor had found the present IMFL rental of Rs 90 lakh for shops in Hyderabad is too high for sale of foreign liquor in view of the limited sales and wanted the government to cut down the tax.

“There is a point in their plea. Since sale of foreign liquor is quite limited, we will positively consider this aspect too,” he added.

TSBC is now selling foreign liquors like Glenfiddich (12 year old) at Rs 5,225, Johnnie Walker Black at Rs 3,685, Johnnie Walker Red at Rs 1,850, Dewars at Rs 1,435 (all 750 ml bottles), WAC-33 Cabernet Merlot at Rs 1,990, Piccini Chianti at Rs 1,840, etc., all 750 ml bottles.

According to Suresh Ohatker, general manager of Telangana State Beverages Corporation, there are 80 foreign brands available with the corporation and once the government takes a decision, they would start stocking 100 odd brands.