To reduce public inconvenience and address law and order concerns, the Andhra Pradesh government is thinking about allowing ‘permit rooms’ at licensed liquor outlets.
Amaravati, July 17, 2025 – The Andhra Pradesh government is planning to allow designated drinking areas, known as permit rooms, at licensed liquor shops across the state. This move is aimed at discouraging people from drinking openly on roads, which has been causing discomfort to the public and raising concerns about public safety.
Sources say there have been growing complaints about people consuming alcohol on the streets, leading to disturbances and occasional law and order issues. To address this, the government is considering a policy change that would let customers consume alcohol within the shop premises before heading home.
These permit rooms will only be for drinking alcohol — no food will be served. Serving food along with liquor will continue to be restricted to bars and restaurants that are licensed for both.
The current liquor policy, introduced last year, did not allow such permit rooms. However, given the recent feedback and concerns, the Excise Department is now working on amending the policy to accommodate this proposal.
