Odisha Government Plans Phase-wise Move Towards Liquor-Free State

Bhubaneswar:The Odisha government is contemplating to make the state liquor-free in phase-wise manner. This was informed by state social security minister Nityananda Gond on Wednesday.

“We just cannot encourage liquor sale in the state fearing revenue loss. Society is being polluted due to liquor addiction,” Gond said while speaking to media persons on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse.

The minister further said, “Liquor has been banned in several states at the government-level. Our government is also committed to do the same. Necessary steps will be taken after discussion in this regard with Excise and other departments. We will try to make Odisha liquor-free in a phase-wise manner,” Gond asserted.

The state government will also take steps in the coming days to lessen the consumption of drugs in order to create a healthy society, he added.

Odisha has 1163 off-shops and 702 on-shops. Besides, the state has got 19 on-clubs, 56 bear parlours and 36 military canteens.

The state earned Rs 6,455 crore excise revenue from liquor trade in 2022-23. Till August end in 2023-24 fiscal, the state had earned Rs 2,655 crore from excise revenue. According to a calculation, the state has seen almost Rs 1000 crore increase in excise revenue in the past five years.

Consumption of alcohol or total prohibition is declared in states like Bihar, Gujarat, Mizoram and Nagaland.