K'taka govt to help opening 1,500 liquor outlets

For, it was only a few minutes before he addressed the media in the hall that Yeddyurappa had told the legislative assembly of his government's intention of facilitating the opening of 1,000 new liquor shops and 500 new bars and restaurants across the state, not something Mahatma Gandhi would have approved of. 

 

In his maiden budget as CM, Yeddyurappa expressed his government's resolve to take liquor shops close to the tipplers' house in the villages. Recounting how he was successful in banning the manufacture and sale of arrack in 2007 as deputy CM, Yeddyurappa explained the rationale behind the opening of liquor shops: "After the sale of arrack was abolished, many consumers in the rural areas started consuming Indian Made Liquor (IML). But they faced problems with regard to commuting long distances to obtain IML. Some trek several kilometre to access bottled liquor.

It is against this backdrop we decided to increase the number of liquor shops and bars in the rural areas."

Maintaining that the move would aid in checking the sale of liquor through unauthorised outlets, Yeddyurappa said granting of licences to 1,500 new outlets will fetch the government over Rs 25 crore. "Moreover, it will also increase liquor sales in rural areas and that, in turn, will increase the revenues from excise," a finance department official explained.

This apart, the government is also working on plans to open retail liquor shops through a public sector undertaking, he added. Ironically, Yeddyurappa had, a year ago, termed the ban on sale of arrack as the 'first step in the ultimate goal of introducing prohibition'.

Now, the government has also proposed to allow transfer of licences for liquor shops from urban areas to rural areas and from one place in rural areas to another within a district to facilitate opening of shops in areas that are 'unserved'.

On the implementation of wine policy announced some time back, Yeddyurappa said the government has proposed to reduce the licence fee for establishing a winery from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5,000. Similarly, the fee for tavern licence has been fixed at Rs 1,000. The financial implication of the reduction is marginal, he maintained and added: "These moves will help grape-growers, besides promoting the wine sector in the state."