New liquor policy will be implemented in Madhya Pradesh from April 1, ‘low alcoholic beverage bars’ will open

Bhopal: Under the new liquor policy, for the first time in Madhya Pradesh, “low alcoholic beverage bars” will open from April 1 next financial year, while the sale of alcohol will be prohibited in 19 places including 17 holy cities. An official gave this information to a news agency.

According to the information, only beer, wine and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages will be allowed in these new bars. In which there will be a maximum of 10 percent V / V (volume on volume) alcohol. Consumption of spirits will be completely prohibited in such bars.

At present, there are 460 to 470 liquor-cum-beer bars across Madhya Pradesh. But with these new outlets, the total number of bars will increase rapidly. The official statement said that a total of 47 liquor shops will be closed under the ban on the sale of liquor in 19 places including 17 holy cities from April 1.

Alcohol will not be available in these cities

The cities where the ban on the sale of liquor is in force include Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, Amarkantak and Salkanpur. On January 23, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a ban on the sale of liquor after the approval of the new excise policy. The move will cause a loss of about Rs 450 crore to the state government in excise revenue.

However, officials said that no penalty will be imposed for bringing liquor from outside and consuming it personally in such areas, as the prohibition law is not applicable in Madhya Pradesh. There is a need to make a law like the Bihar Prohibition Act, 2016 in Madhya Pradesh to ban carrying and drinking liquor where the shops are going to be closed.

Officials said that apart from Bihar, Gujarat also has a liquor ban law, while only the Excise Act is applicable in Madhya Pradesh. The government statement said that under the new excise policy for the next financial year, the renewal fee of liquor shops has been increased by 20 percent. However, the heritage liquor and wine production policy will remain unchanged.

Foreign liquor bottling units will be allowed to manufacture, store, export, import and sell special liquor from the next financial year. According to an estimate, 3600 mixed liquor shops in Madhya Pradesh will bring an estimated revenue of about Rs 15200 crore this financial year.