Overview: Excise Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma has confirmed that 100 percent of liquor shop licenses in Jammu and Kashmir were issued to original residents. The government denies allegations regarding mafia control through proxy bidders following the introduction of an e-auction system.
The Full Story
A total of 655 licenses were issued this year under the J&K Excise Policy and Sale Rules, with 279 allocated for liquor shops and 250 for restaurants, hotels, banquet halls, clubs, and bars. Sharma stated that after the introduction of e-bidding and e-auction system last year, 279 liquor shops were e-auctioned to highest bidders.
This process generated revenue of Rs 217 crore to the exchequer compared to Rs 123 crore in the previous year. While around 200 traditional liquor shopkeepers reportedly suffered losses, Sharma assured that there is no scope for wrongdoing and licenses have been issued to domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir.
What This Means
The departmental stores in urban areas stock beer and ready-to-drink beverages to encourage transition from high-content to low-content alcohols. Sharma defended the availability of these products, noting the move is aimed at encouraging the transition from high-content to low-content harmless alcohols.
Consumer Takeaway
This release offers assurance that 100 per cent licenses have been issued to the domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring no person from outside holds a license for liquor shops in the region.
Source: Read the original article
