Elite liquor outlets to dot National Highways

​Hyderabad: Elite liquor outlets selling exclusive foreign brands will come up along the national highways passing through Telangana. The state government has brought in a confidential order ‘Telangana Excise Rule – 2016’ permitting such liquor outlets.

The GO would also permit opening of liquor outlets within 50 metres distance from the national highways, though it is against the spirit of a directive of the Supreme Court that liquor sales shall not be permitted within 100 metres of a national highway.

Top officials of the Excise and Prohibition Department told The Hans India that under the new excise rules, enthusiastic investors would be allowed to open elite outlets on highways where the business potential is high.

The respective district Excise Superintendents have been instructed to identify potential areas on highways and call for tenders. Each outlet should have 2,000 sq ft space for display and vending of foreign liquor.

The official, who did not want to be named, maintained that the Supreme Court guidelines to sell liquor 100 metres away from highways was not taken into consideration.

The State government strictly followed the Telangana Excise Act 1968, which permits opening of liquor shops even within 50 metres from the highways, he said.

In a recent drive conducted by the government, nearly 50 licenced liquor outlets were found to be established within less than 100 metres from highways, resulting in increased road accidents.

The licence fee for each elite shop would be Rs 1.25 crore per annum. It is mandatory that the outlets should sell wine, beer and liquor at MRP rates only as indicated on the labels of the bottles and issue computerised bills to the customers.

It is estimated that the government would generate about Rs 200 crore additional revenue every year from the elite outlets.