The most bold promise YSRCP made before the elections is to ban liquor sales in Andhra Pradesh. Though the state is in a deep financial crisis, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has still come up with a promise and is taking proper steps to implement, in a stage-wise.
According to the new excise policy, which is expected to be implemented from October, the government is planning to restrict the liquor sales to 6 PM, as against 10 PM now, such that the prime time for liquor which is after 6 PM will lose its significance. The government is expecting that it would bring down the sales of liqour.
Adding to it, the new excise policy is also to reduce the number of liquor brands. The sources reveal that there are about 340 brands that are producing different flavors of liquor, but most of them have no proper sales.
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Meanwhile, the state government is planning to run wine shops on its own, with no private persons in between. This is expected to boost the black market, which in turn puts more burden on the excise department.
So it should be seen, whether the government plans any other alternative or moves on to face the risk.