Vijayawada: Election Commission has ordered that all liquor retail outlets and bars in AP be closed on June 4, the day of counting votes polled in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Accordingly, state excise authorities have issued a directive shutting down all 2,934 liquor retail outlets and 890 bars on June 4. Liquor retail outlets sell liquor from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and bars serve liquor from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Following the EC’s directive, liquor retail outlets will remain shut from 9 p.m. on June 3. They will reopen at 10 a.m. on June 5. Similarly, bars also will close at 11 p.m. on June 3 and reopen at 10 a.m. on June 5.
District election officers are empowered to close or open the liquor retail outlets and bars depending on the law and order situation in their respective districts.
