Excise Official Step Up Vigil as Telangana Buys Rs 2,900 Cr Worth Liquor in October

HYDERABAD: Booze lovers have guzzled 29.5 lakh cases of liquor worth over Rs 2,900 worth in October, which covered not only the Dasara vacations but also hectic political activity. With the elections at hand, the excise department has stepped up surveillance on the sale and movement of liquor across the state.

Sources from the Excise department told Deccan Chronicle that unlike the common notion that there is a heavy flow of liquor, there was not much change in the liquor sales even during Dasara and also after the model code came into force.

Though there is not much difference when compared to the past, the excise officials have stepped up surveillance on the sales from outlets and also on their stock lifting capacity. “The department has identified certain wine shops where there could be a spike in the sales and there is constant surveillance on them from the Election Commission,” sources said. The department is also monitoring the sales at wine shops through CCTVs.

The department has also deputed special teams to keep a tab on the liquor dumps and are constantly coordinating with other departments to prevent illegal liquor supply or stashing of liquor in huge quantities.