Hyderabad: The TS government has tightened norms for liquor shops and bars to check MRP violations and sale of spurious liquor. The penalty for violations has been doubled after Excise officials brought to the notice of the government that the existing penalty was not sufficient to make them fall in line.
The department receives nearly 200 complaints every month about MRP violations and spurious liquor. The major complaints are selling liquor above the maximum retail price, diluting costly liquor brands with cheaper brands and diluting cheaper brands with water. Violation of MRP will now attract a penalty of Rs 2 lakh against the earlier Rs 1 lakh. Liquor shops caught selling spurious liquor will be fined Rs 1.50 lakh. Bars serving spurious liquor will be fined Rs 2 lakh. Liquor shops and bars found selling/serving liquor to persons below 21 years will be fined Rs 1 lakh.
Liquor shops and bars will also be fined if they sell liquor during dry days. For liquor shops the penalty will be Rs 1.50 lakh and for bars Rs 3 lakh.
