The UT excise department is intensifying efforts to combat inter-state liquor smuggling, a growing problem due to the lower prices of alcohol in Chandigarh. Smugglers often transport liquor to neighboring states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Gujarat.
To curb this, excise secretary Ajay Chagti met with officials and directed liquor vendors to strictly follow the “track and trace” system, which monitors the movement of liquor from production to sale. He warned vendors that failure to comply would result in strict penalties.
Recent cases of smuggling include the seizure of 200 boxes of liquor bound for Himachal Pradesh and a significant haul in Rupnagar. The track and trace system, introduced in September, uses unique QR codes on each bottle to ensure full traceability, aiming to improve transparency and reduce illegal activities.
