In Hyderabad, the Excise and Prohibition wing, responsible for managing liquor sales and generating revenue, is facing challenges. Licensed wine shops and bars are not following excise policies, leading to losses for the state.
Bar owners have set up retail liquor sale counters without permission and are selling alcohol above the maximum retail price (MRP). Some licensed wine dealers are opening bars disguised as permit rooms. This has caused conflict within the industry, with bar owners complaining that the presence of permit rooms is hurting their sales and leading to closures.
The competition from wine shops offering liquor at MRP prices in permit rooms has led to a decline in business for bars and restaurants. The government is losing revenue due to the closure of bars, and the Wine Dealers Association is concerned that bar owners may start selling alcohol in their establishments.
Previous government orders allowed bars to sell liquor in bottles, with some establishments selling above MRP without consequences from the excise wing. Wine dealers feel ignored by officials who they believe are accepting bribes from bars. They are urging Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to address these issues before the situation worsens in the liquor trade.
