Andhra Pradesh govt reduces liquor rates to combat smuggling, prevent sanitizer deaths

Amaravati, 4-Sep-2020

An increase in cases of liquor smuggling and deaths due to consumption of hand sanitisers forced the Andhra Pradesh government to reduce prices of liquor in the state. The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday reduced prices of liquor by Rs 10 to Rs 280 in two categories apart from beer, to bring parity in rates with neighbouring states like Telangana and Karnataka. As per government officials, price of cheap liquor (with less than Rs 150 MRP) has been reduced. Price of beer and ready to drink have been reduced by Rs 30. The government has, however, increased the price of premium liquor (50/60/90 ml) by Rs 40-140 in Andhra Pradesh. After lockdown relaxation, the liquor prices witnessed a sharp 75 per cent increase in the state, which was huge in comparison to neighbouring states, particularly Telangana. �The percentage of liquor smuggled into AP from other states increased by 2012 between May 16 and July 31 and that of beer by 1,251 per cent. As many as 10,977 cases were booked and 14,478 people were arrested for smuggling liquor from other states," Revenue (Commercial Taxes and Excise) Special Chief Secretary Rajat Bhargava said. The number of persons arrested in smuggling cases for the same period also saw an increase of 466%. The seizure of vehicles involved in the smuggling of liquor went up by 636% with the monthly average seizure crossing the 4,000-mark from 629 vehicles for the same period. The YS Jaganmohan Reddy government, which created a Special Enforcement Bureau, to curb liquor and sand smuggling in the state in May nabbed over 50,000 for liquor and sand smuggling.
The Special Enforcement Bureau said Andhra liquor prices are comparatively higher than that of Telangana and the difference is even more for the same segments available in Karnataka, Tamilnadu and had suggested a correction. Now, the government has passed order reviewing the liquor prices in the state.