Andhra Pradesh Anticipates Windfall from Private Liquor Outlets

The Andhra Pradesh government expects Rs 20,000 crore from liquor licensing fees and sales in the current financial year. A new policy allows private liquor outlets, anticipated to generate significant revenue compared to last year's earnings. Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena highlights the popular uptake of licenses with 90,000 applications for 3,396 outlets.

The Andhra Pradesh government is poised to generate a substantial Rs 20,000 crore from liquor licensing and sales efforts by the end of the current financial year, according to insider sources.

In a significant shift, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's administration has scrapped the old excise policy, which mandated government-owned liquor outlets, in favor of a new model permitting private stores. The move is expected to significantly boost revenue, with an anticipated intake of Rs 17,000 crore in liquor sales alone over the next six months, compared to last year's Rs 30,000 crore.

The administration reports that nearly 90,000 applications were submitted for licenses to run 3,396 private liquor outlets across the state, at a non-refundable fee of Rs 2 lakh each. Mukesh Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary, Revenue (Excise), notes that this has already added Rs 1,800 crore to the state's coffers. New policies ensure that payment flexibility is granted to consumers at these outlets with modes such as UPI included.

(With inputs from agencies.)