Hyderabad: A new chapter will begin in AP from October 1. Liquor outlets will be run by state government-owned AP Beverages Corporation across the state. There will be no private liquor outlets in the state. As part of implementation of liquor prohibition in the state, state government has reduced the number of liquor outlets to 3,500 from 4,000.
The AP government has issued its new liquor policy for the year 2019-20 and issued guidelines. Except in all dry days, liquor outlets will be opened from 10 am to 9 pm.
In the orders, state government said that after careful examination of the proposal submitted by the MD of the AP State Beverages Corporation, it had formulated the excise policy for 2019-20 in respect of retail outlets (ROs) to be established by the State Beverages Corporation.
State government said that the Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise will fix unit wise, the number of shops for each unit like a municipal corporation, municipality and mandal and communicate this to the MD of the State Beverages Corporation.
As regards the norms for hiring premises for retail outlets, state government said that the premises shall have a minimum space of 150 square feet and a maximum of 300 square feet. It shall be on the ground floor with road frontage with a provision of single entry and exit, secured walls and pucca construction with permanent fixtures.
It shall have an adequate number of ceiling fans, tables, chairs, iron racks, electrical sub-meter, a bottle cooler and a board for displaying MRPs.
Each shop shall be provided with a cash chest and fake note detector, and CC cameras in each shop shall be installed.
State government has constituted district level committees headed by the Joint Collector for scrutiny and selection of shop premises based on the most competitive bid. The committee shall conduct negotiations with the premises owners and fix rents.
