Liquor shops to open late, shut down early
Tags:
The state government has reduced the business hours for liquor outlets by one hour. While the shops are allowed to sell liquor from 10 am to 11 pm till now, the excise department will implement new timings of 11 am to 10 pm from July 1.
The government announced the reducing of business hours a day after new shops were allotted. Excise minister K. Parthasarathy took the decision to reduce business hours apparently to build a defence against the Opposition’s criticism that the government is flooding the state with liquor.
Reacting to the protests of opposition parties, the minister said the government did not increase number of shops and took strict measures to prevent MRP violations besides reducing the business hours.
The retailers, however, cry foul over the government decision. They have been demanding the extending of business hours for the past several months. They earlier asked the government that they must be allowed to open shops at 9 am to prepare for sales from 10 am. “The shops do brisk business between 8 pm and 10.30 pm and it is incorrect to order for closure at 10 pm itself,” said twin cities wine dealers association president Venkateswara Rao.
Post new comment