Now buy bottles of desi liquor from wine shops

Mumbai: For those fond of desi liquor, they can now buy packed bottles from wine shops and consume it at home. The state government is planning to draft a new policy, where desi liquor shops can be converted into foreign liquor shops. The policy will ban serving desi liquor at these shops.

According to the state government data, there are 3,903 desi liquor shops, which are called as CL3 and 1,685 foreign liquor shops, which are known as FL2 shops. The open sale of liquor in CL3 shops results in law and order problems at several places. If CL3 shops are converted into FL2 shops, the owners will be able to sell both desi and foreign liquor brands in their shops. This will help people buy packed bottles at these shops and drink liquor at home. This will not only bring down accidents caused by drunk driving but will also reduce law and order problems, said state officials.

Chandrashekhar Bawankule, minister of state excise, told The Asian Age, “The policy will encourage desi liquor shop owners to change their license to foreign wine shops by paying a certain transfer fee. By changing the license, the owner will be able to sell both desi and foreign liquor in his shop. However, the scheme is completely voluntary as it will not be compulsory for the owner to change the license. But once the license is changed, he cannot sell desi liquor in the open. If found, his license will be cancelled.”

The transfer fee for the change in license is yet to be decided. It will be according to the status of the place and will have four slabs – Gram Panchayat, Nagar Palika, Mahanagarpalika and Metro cities, said Mr Bawankule.

Under the new policy, the state government is also planning to effect changes in licence transfer rules. The policy will not allow a partnership or transfer of licence to another party. The licence can only be transferred to the legal heir of the licence holder and if not, will have to be returned to the government.