Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Govt. announced its new liquor policy on Tuesday. The govt decided to sell the liquor through beverage corporation instead of pvt Parties.

       The state govt had reduced total number of shops in the state by 20%. The govt is moving towards complete prohibition of the liquor in the state within four years. No shop license shall be issued in scheduled areas unless the Grama Sabha concerned gives its consent to grant a license to establish a liquor shop.

     The government order said. If a Grama Sabha fails to indicate its rejection of the approval within 15 days, then the approval is deemed given, the GO said. The state government had also decided to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling of not allowing liquor shops within 500 meters of state and national highways strictly. This is in contrast to the previous TD government, which had de-notified some state highways as ordinary roads so that liquor shops can be allowed, hoodwinking the apex court’s verdict.

      Interestingly, the government has decided to put restrictions on sale of liquor to certain persons. “Liquor shall not be sold to lunatics, drunk people, those suspected to likely participate in acts of sedition, insurrection, breach peace or threaten public tranquility, besides soldiers in uniform, camp servants of military officers in uniform and minors,” the order says.