Vijayawada, May 2026: The Andhra Pradesh government has initiated fresh discussions on excise sector reforms, liquor pricing policies and retail modernisation as a high-level ministerial sub-committee held a detailed review meeting on Monday to assess the future roadmap for the state’s Prohibition and Excise Department.
The meeting, conducted in hybrid mode, focused on improving revenue generation, strengthening regulatory mechanisms and introducing reforms aimed at modernising liquor retail operations across the state. Senior ministers and top excise officials deliberated on several proposals, including airport liquor outlets, digital payment systems in liquor retailing and revisions in beer and liquor prices amid rising production costs.
Excise and Mines Minister Kollu Ravindra, MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas, Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena, Excise Commissioner Chamakuri Sridhar and Enforcement Director Rahuldev Sharma attended the meeting physically, while Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav and Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar joined virtually.
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According to officials, the sub-committee reviewed proposals for setting up liquor outlets at airports in Andhra Pradesh as part of efforts to expand premium retail channels and improve consumer convenience. Discussions were also held on strengthening digital payment infrastructure in liquor shops to encourage transparent and cashless transactions in the excise retail sector.
Another major agenda item included dynamic printing of Maximum Retail Price (MRP) labels and the introduction of a separate licensing framework for manufacturing high-purity alcohol and laboratory-grade spirits. Officials said such reforms are aimed at improving regulatory oversight and streamlining industrial alcohol operations in the state.
The committee also examined proposals for revising liquor and beer prices in view of increasing input costs, inflationary pressures and the impact of global geopolitical conflicts on raw materials, transportation and packaging expenses. Officials presented multiple pricing models and explained their potential impact on government revenue collections, liquor manufacturers, retailers and consumers.
During the meeting, officials made detailed presentations on the current excise retail policy, sector performance and possible long-term reforms for strengthening the state’s excise administration. The financial and operational performance of the excise sector was also reviewed as the government looks to enhance efficiency and revenue growth through policy changes and modern retail practices.
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