On Wednesday, representatives from the Liquor Sellers Welfare Association presented their demands during a meeting with officials from the excise department.
The association put forward an eight-point charter, seeking adjustments to the current policies. One of their main requests is a 20% increase in the retail margin for liquor sellers, as they claim that their operational costs have risen to 15-16%. They also called for changes to the quota system used by the department to control sales, arguing that it should be based on actual demand and supply rather than a fixed quota.
Additionally, beer shop owners requested that the government reconsider the quota system for beer sales, taking into account market trends and weather patterns. They pointed out that sales can be affected by local weather conditions and major festivals, which can impact demand. Another issue raised was the difficulty of using point-of-sale systems and scanning machines in areas with poor internet connectivity.
