Liquor traders in search for suitable place to set up retail shops

Vijayawada:Several liquor traders are facing difficulty in identifying suitable places to set up their retail outlets even as the state government has extended the time up to November 10, tomorrow, to obtain a regular licence.

A thumb rule is that no liquor retail outlet will be permitted within the 100 metre radius of schools, religious institutions, hospitals and national/state highways.

The excise authorities are busy measuring the air distance to comply with this stipulation, before giving permission for new liquor outlets. This is unlike the earlier practice of measuring the road distance.

The excise authorities now measure the straight line in the air to ensure that no school, religious institution, hospital and highway is located within the 100 metre radius. Liquor traders say the government is testing their patience.

Apart from ‘distance’, another issue is the resistance from locals against the setting up liquor shops close to their habitations. They fear law and order issues would arise and they would not have a peaceful life.

Political pressure is another cause of concern to the liquor traders vis-a-vis setting up a liquor outlet in permanent premises to get a regular licence.

Liquor traders say they have paid the advance amount to owners of buildings to set up the shops and hence it would be difficult for them to relocate to other places. Building owners are refusing to refund the money.

Some traders say they are facing resistance from locals, who cite the presence of small-time schools and temples in the area, even as these are not having recognition from the state government.

A liquor trader said, “The system of measuring the air distance is followed only in AP and for the first time. Why so?”

The state government has initiated the new liquor policy from Oct. 16 by sanctioning 3,396 liquor retail outlets for private persons/parties. It issued a provisional licence to set up shop in permanent premises in compliance with the norms for a regular licence. But, it kept on extending the date for issuing the regular licence. November 10 is the last date fixed for traders to identify a suitable place for their retail shop and get a regular licence.

Excise authorities say that out of the 3,396 shops permitted, all except 20 shops are given provisional licence while over 2,500 shops got regular licence so far.