Punjab Govt. To Close Over 450 Liquor Shops

Chandigarh: In-line with its poll promise the Amarinder Singh government on Saturday decided to close over 450 liquor shops in Punjab.

Under its new excise policy for 2017-18 the government also announced to slash the liquor quota by upto 20 percent and ban sale of alcohol within 500 meters of national and state highways.

The decision was taken in the maiden cabinet meeting of the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government here, a spokesman with the Chief Minister's Office said. At present there are 6,384 liquor vends in the state, which will be reduced to 5,900.

In its poll manifesto, the Congress had announced, that "to discourage liquor consumption in Punjab and substantially reduce its sale in five years, it will close five percent of liquor vends each year."

The government has also abolished the "controversial" wholesale licence for the L-1A category. This will allow L-1 licensees to directly purchase their quota from the distilleries, bottling plants and manufacturing companies, he said.

In its poll manifesto, the Congress had announced, that “to discourage liquor consumption in Punjab and substantially reduce its sale in five years, it will close five percent of liquor vends each year.”

The L-1 licence would be granted to retail L-2 licensees in the districts concerned, the spokesman said. The previous SAD-BJP government had came under sharp criticism last year after the wholesale licence for L-1A category was introduced. Several people engaged in the liquor trade alleged it was benefiting certain groups in this category.

It was also alleged that wholesale licence L-1A category was introduced to monopolise the liquor trade in the state.