Andhra Pradesh Minister for Excise, Kollu Ravindra, on Wednesday said that the state government would bring new excise policy from October 1. He said that the government had started working on the new liquor policy.
The state government was also studying the liquor policies of six states in the country. The government would evolve a new policy after this study, he said. He further said that the officials were visiting six states in the country to study their liquor policy. They would submit their report to the state government once they complete the tour, the minister said.
The state government would provide quality and safe liquor to the people, the minister said. He further said that the prices too would be in the reach of the common man.
The previous government had brought cheap liquor to the state, the minister said. He said that the unknown brands were supplied to the people from the liquor shops. The liquor shops were also run by the state government, he said.
The present government had started investigation into the liquor policy of the previous government. Cases were filed against the AP Beverages Corporation managing director Vasudeva Reddy and others, the minister said.
The previous government also accepted only cash and not online payment, the minister said. The money went into the pockets of the ruling party leaders, he alleged. The excise revenue for the state was nothing as the money went directly into the pockets of the ruling party leaders, the minister alleged.
He blamed former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for the cheap liquor policy in the last five years. People have lost their money and health because of the cheap brands, the minister said.
