New Excise policy retains all liquor shops

Hyderabad, June 24 : The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to retain all the 6,596 liquor shops spread across the State.

According to a Gazette notification issued on Monday on new excise policy, the Government has set an annual license fee of Rs 32.5 lakh for areas having population of more than 10,000. The license fee will be Rs 34 lakh for towns with a population of above 10,000 and below 50,000, Rs 42 lakh for above 50,000 and below 3 lakh population, Rs 46 lakh for towns above 3 lakh and below 5 lakh population, Rs 64 lakh for above 5 lakh and below 20 lakh cities and Rs.1.4 crore for cities having population of more than 20 lakhs.

Making minor changes in the previous policy, the government has introduced six-level slab system. The liquor shops have to Rs 2 lakh in addition to the license fee for room permit. INN