Hyderabad: Telangana state has dropped the idea of taking over the liquor business and on Thursday issued the notification on the new excise policy for the licence period 2019- 2021.
As expected, the government has increased the application fee from `1 lakh to `2 lakh, which is not refundable. The slabs have been increased from four to six on the basis of population.
The new excise policy will be in force from November 1 to October 31, 2021.
The number of liquor shops has not been increased and remains at the present level of 2,216 state-wide. Shops will be handed out through a draw of lots if there is more than one applicant.
The business hours have not been changed. In the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the peripheral areas, shops will remain open from 10 am to 11 pm and in other areas, 10 am to 10 pm.
The government has increased the number of slabs from four to six and has increased the licence fee in the lower slabs.
In the old policy, the first slab was for shops that covered less than 50,000 population and had a licence fee of `45 lakh. In the new excise policy, the new slab begins for shops covering 5,000 population and the licence fee is `50 lakh.
In the new policy the second slab is for an area covering a population of 5,001 to 50,000 population and the licence fee has been fixed at `55 lakh. In the old policy, the second slab was for a population of 50,001 up to 5 lakh population and the licence fee was `55 lakh.
The third slab is for 50,001 up to 1 lakh population and the licence fee is `60 lakh.
The other slabs have not been changed. For a population between 5 lakh and and 20 lakh, the licence fee is `85 lakh and for a population above 20 lakh, the licence fee is `1.10 crore.
The licence period is for two years. The licensees shall be permitted to pay two years licence fee in eight equal installments instead of in six at present.
If, after re-notification, any liquor shop is not disposed of, the Telangana State Beverages Corporation shall be permitted to establish an outlet for which the fee will be `5 lakh per annum to be collected at one time. The retailer's margin will be 27 per cent on ordinary. 20 per cent on medium and premium varieties of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and foreign liquor and 20 per cent on beer.
