Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said that the state’s new bar policy, which is set to be implemented in a month, will prioritize public health over revenue. Speaking at a review meeting in Vijayawada with ministers and excise officials, Naidu emphasized the need to reduce the alcohol content in liquor to protect consumers’ health.
The policy has been drafted based on recommendations from a Group of Ministers and suggestions from stakeholders.
Key Highlights of the New Policy:
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Licensing Based on Population:
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Areas with a population under 50,000: ₹35 lakh licence fee
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Population under 5 lakh: ₹55 lakh licence fee
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Population over 5 lakh: ₹75 lakh licence fee
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Bar Allocation:
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Andhra Pradesh currently has 840 bars.
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New bar licences will be allotted through a lottery system.
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Each bar must receive at least four applications to be considered for allocation.
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The government expects to earn ₹700 crore from licence and application fees.
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Support for Toddy Tappers:
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10% of bar licences will be reserved for toddy-tapping communities (Geetha Kulalu), similar to the earlier liquor shop policy.
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Liquor Sales and Trends:
Excise officials informed the CM that:
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Liquor sales increased due to lower prices, better availability of brands, and improved quality.
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Sales dropped during the previous government’s rule due to high prices and lack of quality brands.
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Sales in neighboring states have slightly increased near the AP border due to these changes in AP.
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The government aims to make all districts in AP free from illicit liquor by the end of September.
