The decision of YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to phase out liquor consumption in the state may be a noble idea, but it is most likely to face practical problems.
Analysts say the decision to implement prohibition in a phased manner in the next four years will not only bring down huge revenue to the state exchequer, but also increase the expenditure on the government in enforcing prohibition.
“You may make the liquor not available for the people but you cannot stop people from consuming liquor. They will smuggle liquor from neighbouring Telangana state or go to the border areas to consume liquor. It will only increase its excise revenue of the Telangana and deprive AP of its revenue,” an analyst said.
According to the latest bill passed in the assembly, liquor sale will be done hereafter by the AP Beverages Corporation through its outlets and not allow its sale through belt shops.
If the government itself opens wine shops, it has to appoint more employees and their salaries would be a big burden on the government.
Moreover, the government selling liquor will bring a bad name to Jagan and women might not appreciate the same.
Thirdly, if the liquor outlets are closed after evening hours, it will give scope to mushrooming of unauthorised shops that might result in black-marketing of liquor. And the government has to deploy more forces to prevent the same.
