Licensed wine dealers in Telangana have expressed their strong objection to the government’s conditions for the bidding of wine shops. The dealers claim that district officials are pressuring them to buy more applications in order to renew their licenses through a draw of lots for the period of 2023-2025.
According to the district officials, the draw of lots will only take place if each wine shop receives at least 20 applications. If a shop receives less than 20 applications, the draw of lots will be halted until more applications are obtained. Union leaders of wine shop dealers argue that this is a tactic to force them to purchase more applications, which cost Rs 2 lakh each.
Officials from the State Excise and Prohibition wing have been holding meetings with the dealers to encourage them to buy more applications. The wine dealers feel that they have no choice but to take legal action against the imposition of these conditions on the allotment of wine shops.
