Sources stated that the andhra pradesh government on friday cancelled the licenses of all existing bars in the state. With this, all bars have been given until december 31, 2019, to wind up their operations. Meanwhile the state said that it would issue new licenses from january 1, 2020. Furthermore the move follows the decision taken three days ago to shut down 40 percent of the bars in the state as part of the government's plan to implement total prohibition in phases.
Apparently the state government also unveiled a new bar policy, which will come into effect from january 1, 2020, and will remain in force for two years. Perhaps under this policy, the government has fixed Rs 10 lakh as the license application fee for opening a bar and the licenses will be issued through a lottery system. Meanwhile chief minister Y.S. jagan Mohan Reddy has directed officials to shut down 40 percent of the 798 bars in the state and the ysrcp government also proposes to increase the liquor price served in bars to further discourage its consumption.
Moreover in an order issued here on friday, the government said reducing the number of bars, increasing the licence fee and reducing the business hours of bars under the new policy was aimed further curtailing the availability of alcoholic beverages to the general public. Further it noted that in compliance with constitutional obligations, the government has taken a policy decision to implement prohibition in a phased manner and regards it as one of its top priorities. Moreover the ysrcp government has already reduced the number of retail liquor shops from 4,380 to 3,500 and the shops are being run by state owned A.P. State Beverages Corporation Ltd.
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