Andhra Pradesh State is all set to house close to 4,000 liquor outlets across its length and breadth, which is much higher than the 3,000 outlets that has gone to Telangana post-bifurcation. The higher number of outlets, according to sources, could come as a breather to the government that is set to commence its journey with a deficit budget. Previously, the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited (APBCL) had 39 depots through which liquor was supplied to wine shops across the State.
After the division that followed 58:42 ratio, the Excise and Prohibition Department allotted 22 liquor depots to Andhra Pradesh and the remaining 17 went to Telangana. The allotment followed a series of meetings at the Head Office in Nampally, Hyderabad.
According to officials, the corporation would supply an estimated 35 lakh to 40 lakh cases of liquor to the outlets in Andhra Pradesh. Each case would contain bottles of varying volumes - 12 liquor bottles each measuring 750 ml or 24 bottles of 375 ml or 48 bottles measuring 180 ml.
As many as 20 lakh beer cases would also be supplied through the corporation. Beer sales have already gone up during summer months in Andhra Pradesh, thanks to sweltering heat. Officials said there was, however, no change in the rules and shop owners should follow the rules that existed in the united State. “Every owner has to the pay amount to the government through a challan obtained in the name of “GOAPDDB”. Once paid, the corporation will get online confirmation about the payment and then the stock would be released,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
When contacted, Vijayawada Liquor Merchants Association president G. Koti Prasad said owners were now adhering to the same procedure adopted in the united Andhra Pradesh to obtain stock from the depots of the APBCL.
