If Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy believes that he can stop people from consuming alcohol if he shuts down liquor shops in state, better think twice.
This is because the liquor consumption in AP has only increased instead of decreasing after Jagan closed 700 liquor shops after he became CM.
Prior to Jagan became CM, the AP had 4,380 shops. After Jagan became CM, he announced to implement 'liquor ban' in AP in a phased manner.
With this, 700 liquor shops downed shutters after they did not apply for renewal of their licences.
Moreover, Jagan also launched a crackdown against belt shops (illegal liquor outlets) in AP.
With this, everyone thought that the liquor consumption will come down in AP. But, it turned out to be otherwise as the liquor sales increased by 5% in July 2019 when compared with July 2018.
Beer sales increased by 26%, only whisky/ brand sales decreased by 8 per cent. This data has been officially released by AP excise department.
Overall liquor sales in AP increased to Rs 1,670 crore in July 2019 against Rs 1,453 crore in July 2018, a rise of 14.93%.
This shows that the closing down of liquor shops in a phased manner over the next four years to implement complete liquor ban in AP, will not prevent AP people from consuming alcohol.
They will purchase even more liquor from available shops in AP for the next four years and purchase liquor from neighbouring states after total prohibition is implemented by Jagan in the fifth year of his term.
Jagan's move will only deny liquor income to AP government while fetching additional revenue to Telangana and other neighbouring states as AP people will not stop drinking just because Jagan had imposed liquor ban.
Then what Jagan will achieve with his liquor ban has now become a million-dollar question.
