Govt. plans to close belt shops across State

The state government has begun identifying liquor-selling belt shops, which are to be closed in line with the promise the Congress had made during the Assembly election campaign.

Sources said prohibition and excise department senior officials were preparing a presentation to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on the revenue generated through the sale of liquor and action to be taken on closing belt shops.

A senior official said that a belt shop was a unit that purchases liquor from a licensed liquor outlet and sells it locally with an added



charge. There are 2,600 licensed wine shops in the state which purchase stock from TS Beverages Corporation Limited (TSBCL) and sell to customers.

"We are waiting for orders from our superiors to launch the crackdown," an excise official, seeking anonymity, said.

He also denied the reports that the timings of the liquor shops would be reduced. As per norms, the liquor shops can be open from 10 am to 11 pm in the GHMC jurisdiction and its peripheries and 10 am to 10 pm in other areas.