TIRUPATI: Wine shops, bars and restaurants will remain shut from Wednesday in protest against the government and the excise department demanding to revert to earlier higher margin of 18 per cent on MRP from the newly introduced 7 per cent. Wine shops associations, bar and restaurants associations decided at a meeting held at Tiruchanuru near Tirupati on Monday to launch the stir. The government would earlier be given 18 per cent of margin to the wine shops, when sold on MRP.
During last tenders which took place in April 2017, the government did not mentioned any change in the margin. As there are no changes many people came forward for the tenders. But, after establishing the shops in July, 2017, the excise department has brought down the margin percentage to 7 percent from 18 percent.
Members of the association had several times met government officials and asked them to look into their problems but there has apparently been no response. Associations were irked by the government and its response and hence they decided to shut all wine shops in the district from March 28. President, Wine Shops association, Tirupati, Mr T. Gunasekara Naidu told media persons, "We opened the shops expecting minimum profits. We have spent about ?40 lakhs to 50 lakh. As the officials cut down our profit margins, we are maintaining the shops with debts. Almost 4 lakhs - 5 lakhs loss is being observed for every shop. We will shut the shops from Wednesday and will continue further, until the government accepts to provide 18 percent margin on MRP".
