The Odisha Government on Thursday approved the Excise Policy for the financial year 2023-24.
As per the new policy, there will be no increase in the number of FL (foreign liquor)-OFF, premium FL-OFF and CL shops during the year 2023-24, and the license of existing FL-OFF and CL (ENA-based) EP holders will be renewed for a period of one year up to the end of March. According to the new policy, “State Government has restricted the new licence for ON shop in rural areas during the year 2023-24.”
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“Enforcement activities will be further strengthened through improved intelligence, better infrastructure and resources, enhanced deployment of enforcement staff as well as the use of technology for monitoring and supervision,” said an official statement.
In urban areas new ON shops license can be granted for only star hotels and other hotels having a minimum number of rooms to be decided by the Excise Department for new ON licenses.
In the face of criticism from some quarters, Odisha government has allowed opening of beach shacks which can serve food and liquor in the state to promote tourism.
The new policy provides of opening of beach shacks in the state to promote tourism. However, the license for these shacks will only be granted to the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and not to any private operator.
The shacks can be opened near different water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and dams, apart from sea beaches, the new policy said adding that the beach shack license will be considered a special category of restaurant ON’ license, and the OTDC will have to decide on selecting operators for beach shacks through an appropriate method.
The OTDC, as the licensee, will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all procedures.
The Beach Shacks will be allowed to operate throughout the year or for a period as decided by the tourism department, depending on the climatic conditions.
Common infrastructure for the beach shacks such as power connection, water supply, sewerage connections, solid waste management and others will be provided y the OTDC or the relevant agency, it said.
Beer parlours will be allowed to sell beer as well as LABS/RTD and wine, ON shops are not allowed for counter sale like OFF shops.
The policy also increase excise duty for Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) marginally besides increasing a few other costs for bars, which may increase retail alcohol costs.
State Government has increased the application fee for new/renewal of OFF shops from 1.1 lakhs to 1.2 lakhs, besides the Minimum guaranteed quantity (MGQ) and retailer along with that annual composite label registration fee for FL-OFF and FL-ON shops for the sale of all brands has been fixed at 50,000.
Beer parlours will be allowed to sell beer as well as LABS/RTD and wine, ON shops are not allowed for counter sale like OFF shops. State Government has increased the application fee for new/renewal of OFF shops from 1.1 lakhs to 1.2 lakhs, besides the Minimum guaranteed quantity (MGQ) and retailer along with that annual composite label registration fee for FL-OFF and FL-ON shops for the sale of all brands has been fixed at 50,000.
“Enforcement activities will be further strengthened through improved intelligence, better infrastructure and resources, enhanced deployment of enforcement staff as well as the use of technology for monitoring and supervision,” said an official statement. (ANI)
