Popular Brands To Return To AP Liquor Stores From Oct 1

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Council of Ministers led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday approved the draft liquor policy recommended by the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra to ensure the availability of all popular brands from October 1.

The Cabinet cleared the proposal to name Bhogapuram International Airport after revolutionary Alluri Sitarama Raju who waged a war against British Rule. GMR Group is developing the greenfield airport in Vizianagaram district with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in the first phase.

The Polavaram diaphragm wall will be built as per the advice of the Central Waters Commission and Polavaram Project Authority by the old contractor. The Cabinet appreciated the sanction of Rs 12,000 crore for Polavaram project by the Union Government and resolved to complete it within two to two and half years. On the contentious volunteers’ system, no decision was taken to continue them. Their contract expired in March, 2024.

The old excise policy under implementation during the earlier stint of TDP in 2014-19 will be reintroduced with the opening of smart outlets at densely populated areas. “Henceforth, there will be popular brands available instead of select low-quality brands. We will provide affordable and premium quality brands,” Housing and Information & Public Relations Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said they received several complaints on kidney and liver ailments due to inferior quality brands made available during the YSRCP regime.

It has been decided to sell quality liquor of all brands at Rs 99 instead of Rs 120 for 180 ml. There will be plenty of choice due to availability of multiple established brands. 10 per cent of retail shops will be allotted to toddy-tappers. Shops will be run by private agencies for two years with 10 am to 10 pm business hours. UPI payments, which were not allowed, will be permitted from October 1. Licence fee has been finalised in four slabs with a profit margin of 20 per cent.

Asked to comment on whether volunteers would be continued, the Minister said an integrated policy would be drafted.

Earlier, Cabinet Sub-Committee on New Liquor Policy Chairman Kollu Ravindra alleged that the indiscriminate sale of ‘J-brands’ during the YSRCP regime led to loss of

revenue to the tune of

Rs 19,000 crore.

He alleged that less known brands were sold during the previous regime with an ulterior motive risking the lives of several people.