Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a review meeting with the Excise Department, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu emphasized that transparency, affordability, and public health are the cornerstones of the state’s new liquor policy. He slammed the previous YSRCP government for rampant misuse and politicization of the liquor trade, which led to widespread circulation of spurious liquor brands and a decline in public health.

The Chief Minister made it clear that only national and international quality liquor brands should be permitted in the market, and any sale of non-duty paid liquor or illicit brews would be dealt with strictly. “No compromise on quality. People's health is non-negotiable,” Naidu asserted.

Excise officials informed the CM that liquor prices have dropped between Rs.10 to Rs.100 across brands compared to the previous regime, resulting in a monthly savings of Rs.116 crore for consumers. Compared to neighbouring states like Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh now offers the lowest prices for the top 30 branded liquors, they added.

The Chief Minister alleged that during the previous government’s term, nearly 68% of the market was flooded with anonymous, low-quality liquor brands, which not only posed serious health risks but also diverted legitimate trade and reduced state revenue.

“These fake brands caused addiction to harmful substances like ganja and drugs. Many were launched for personal gain and have now vanished without a trace,” Naidu said. He directed officials to conduct a comparative study of liquor policies from 2014–2019 and 2019–2024 and present a public report.

Addressing the social impact of public drinking, Naidu noted that lack of licensed permit rooms has pushed people to consume alcohol in open spaces, leading to law-and-order issues. “Despite efforts, this problem persists. It is time we consider regulated spaces like permit rooms,” he said. A decision on this will be taken after committee recommendations. He also recommended microbreweries in tourism zones to enhance the sector and provide regulated access to liquor in high-tourism areas.

To tighten monitoring and eliminate illegal distribution, the CM ordered the deployment of an AI-based trace and track system. The new system will monitor the movement of liquor from distilleries to retail outlets in real-time using GPS tracking. “Every bottle, every truck must be accounted for,” Naidu said.

He stressed the need to promote digital payments and warned that belt shops—unauthorized outlets selling liquor—will not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Use drones for surveillance, apply data analytics to monitor stock movements, and clamp down on arrack and other illicit brews,” he instructed.