Mushrooming of bars unlikely

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 7. The State may not have a large number of bars as feared by women's organisations and protagonists of prohibition under the new Excise policy, thanks to the conditions prescribed by the policy for opening them such as having A/C facility, minimum extent of plinth area, etc.

The Government has so far approved proposals for opening 175 bars in municipal towns/cities and these, coupled with 77 bars which were previously permitted and attached to star-hotels, will take the total bars in the State to a maximum of 252 for the present, compared to 1,189 bars which existed during pre-prohibition days. The number is not likely to go up because of the restrictions imposed by the policy and heavy payments to be made to the Government.

Out of the 175 bars permitted anew, 21 are being located in Hyderabad. A surprise is that no proposal came from Vijayawada or Visakhapatnam, two other major cities in the State. Liquor consumers in these two cities will have to satisfy themselves at the bars which are already existing and are attached to star- hotels.

However, the policy has given birth to 615 more liquor shops, taking the total number of wine shops in the State to an all-time high of 7,288. According to Mr Asutosh Mishra, Commissioner for Prohibition and Excise, this is in spite of the restrictions in force that no shop should be located within 100 metres of a temple, educational institution or hospital. Population of an area has not been taken as a basic criterion this time as, he says, a shop is bound to serve the visiting or floating population also. With the last date for receiving applications for opening the shops being May 9, it is likely that the number may swell further. However, applications for opening bars will be received throughout the year, he clarified to The Hindu here on Monday.

Mr Mishra says it is too early to say whether the new policy will boost the liquor consumption. The flow of imported liquor may continue to be "very little " as it is now, even under WTO. The consumption of liquor last year remained at 1.88 crore cases with each case accounting for nine bulk litres and beer at 1.22 crore cases (one case having 7.8 bulk litres).

Regarding income, the Commissioner stated that it may increase to Rs 2,750 crores this year, coming out of increased licence fee, Excise duty, Sales Tax on sales, etc.

He said a "special privilege fee" is being collected on the liquor sold in the State by the Andhra Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited as instructed by the Government to support the ongoing total literacy programme. The amount expected against this may be around Rs 250 crores.

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