The new liquor policy, which came into force on July1, triggered statewide agitations opposing liquor shops and bars. Andhra Pradesh Excise Minister K S Jawahar requested protestors to contact him on his mobile number 9951314101 instead of breaking liquor bottles in the shops and demanding closure. Women in the state are aggressively agitating against the new alcohol policy in the state. The minister said that they resolved 11 of the 13 complaints received across the state. Despite the opposition, official records reveal that Rs 333.35 crores of liquor was purchased from the government godowns from July1 to 6.
Fresh licenses are being issued from July 1 in accordance with the new excise policy as the licenses of all the liquor shops and bars expired on June 30. Only 23percent of wine shops and 11percent bars in the state got licenses and did business at the beginning of the week. In the wake of Supreme Court orders, bar and restaurants in the range of 500 and 220 meters of the national and state highways were forcefully removed. Two days after the policy came into force, not even 20percent of shops opened. Consequently, merchants tried to establish bars and liquor shops in residential areas. This led to strong opposition from women and locals. The state cabinet ordered denotify portions of highways passing through cities as urban or district major roads (DMR) on Tuesday. A measure to shield the existing shops from the scope of the Supreme Court guidelines. With this denotification, liquor shops started procuring licenses. But, the sale of alcohol in unauthorized belt shops is a result of the growth in sales. Officials said that they served notices to dealers as the locals objected wine shops in residential areas or in the vicinity of places of worship or educational institutions. The Minister said that cases were booked against 6,324 belt shops, 2,901 were arrested and 106 vehicles seized.
As per the reports, 92new bars were given licenses while 463 bars of the 743bars got new licenses as of Thursday. AP Prohibition and Excise Department officials issued licences to 3,100 liquor shops of 4380 liquor shops in the state. Even though the government gave time till August15 for procuring new licenses, a majority of wine shop owners took licenses in just 5days. Officials also do not have any major restrictions to avoid giving permissions. Despite facing opposition, Rs 333.35crores worth liquor being sold in five days is raising doubts. However, the government claims that it incurred around Rs 125 to Rs135crore loss. The new license policy not only reduces the license fee but also keeps the license valid for 5years.
Why did Jawahar call Beer a health drink
Leaders of TDP and ally BJP also extended support to the agitations in the various parts of the state. Opposition YSRCP, Congress, Left parties and activists participated in the agitation. However Excise Minister raised a controversy when he termed beer a “health drink”. He even sent report to TV9 on Tuesday morning, listing the “health benefits” of beer, in a note titled ‘13 amazing benefits of beer’.
This statement from the minister comes acknowledging the fact that TDP Government decided to produce Draught beer in large quantities by giving away permissions to micro-breweries in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada especially for supply near beaches on similar lines with Goa. Draught beer is a form of the drink which served from a keg or cask with less preservatives and retains most of the flavour that it had when it was brewed. Consequently the shelf life is very less and when consumed in restricted quantities, draught beer helps control cholesterol and prevents kidney stones. The minister reportedly said that since it is difficult to prevent people from consuming alcohol, he made a failed rather controversial attempt to introduce locally-brewed beer with far less alcohol content.