Ahmedabad, India
Liquor Worth Rs 97 Crore Sold To Permit–Holders Since November’07
Replying to a question by Borsad Congress MLA, Amit Chavda, the government said on Thursday that the number of liquor bottles sold, increased by 7,69,824 while the revenue increased by Rs 18.98 crore compared to 2007–08. The revenue earned from liquor in the November 2007–October 2008 period was Rs 39.32 crore which shot up to Rs 58.30 crore in the next corresponding period.
Surat city contributed maximum to the revenue having consumed liquor worth Rs 32.96 crore in the two year period. Even small towns were not far behind, with Kheda selling liquor worth Rs 3.41 crore in the two years.
Gandhinagar seemed the most sober among smaller cities, showing a consumption of only 2,946 bottles sold at Rs 12.66 lakh. The capital, however, has very few licensed liquor shops.
Six hotels in Vadodara, five in Ahmedabad and four each in Surat and Rajkot registered high sale in liquor. Sources in the government said that now with relaxation in drinking laws, liquor will be made available to those living in special economic zones (SEZ), who carry the required liquor cards.
The liquor cards, with threeyear validity period, will be issued for a fee of Rs 500, and will be bound by several conditions. Also the according to the new plan, anyone above 21 years of age living in an SEZ will be entitled to get a liquor card for three years for Rs 500 and group permit will be granted to organizers of events for those coming from outside the state for Rs 5,000. The liquor card will be issued by the SEZ development committee on an application “For purchase, possession, use and consumption of foreign liquor”. For national and international conferences, business and academic meets, group permits are also issued to organizers by the superintendent of prohibition and excise in each district.
And, liquor can be served only to delegates, members or representatives participating in the event.
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Source: Times of India
