Reportedly the Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday said that it will take over all 3,500 liquor shops from October 1, as a first major step towards imposing prohibition in the state. Meanwhile the government owned Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) will take over the liquor business from next month, Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Naryanaswamy said on Saturday adding that the state had taken over 475 liquor shops under APSBCL from September 1.
Earlier the government had announced that the number of liquor outlets will be reduced from 4,380 to 3,500 and will be eventually phased out. Furthermore he said the previous government had allowed the functioning of 43,000 belt shops which were closed down after Y S jagan Mohan Reddy took over as the chief minister and belt shops are the illegal outlets of the licensed liquor shops.
Moreover he said till now, 2,872 cases were registered and 2,928 people were taken into custody for operating belt shops. Previously jagan Mohan Reddy during his 'padyatra' had promised to ban alcohol in the state in phases and keeping his word, the government is taking over the wine shops. Perhaps the deputy chief minister said the shops will remain open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Some 3,500 supervisors, 8,033 salesmen have been recruited to run these outlets.
