Bengaluru: The government has made it clear that it does not have any intention of bringing back ‘cheap liqour’, arrack or toddy in the state.
Speaking about the same, Minister for Excise Manohar H Tahsildar said that however, the state is contemplating to bring in neera, a health drink which promises a prof it for farmers. There are no plans of bringing in those cheap liquor in state at all, as published some media.
The state government wants to make liquor affordable and available and in this bid, the state will grant permits to open 1,750 more retail liquor outlets, as he argues that since 1992, the government has not issued any retail licences (CL2 and wholesale CL9).
“The state has 15,000 liquor retail shops and going by the 2011 census, we need to give 1,750 more licences. I’ve discussed this with the chief minister but we’re yet to take a final decision. Our aim is to provide liquor at low prices and make it accessible. This will also give jobs to the unemployed and benefit the scheduled classes. It’ll put the brakes on fake and illegal liquor,” he added.
Tahsildar also said the state-owned Mysore Sales International Ltd has given the go-ahead for 457 wholesale liquor shops and 407 have already been set up.
