The Other Day, YSR Congress Government had reduced the prices of Cheap Liquor backtracking from its earlier stance of keeping prices so high that the people can not afford it. But then, things have got completely different. There is no marked decrease in consumption which means the Poor only spent more for the same drink making them poorer.
There is also a drastic increase in the smuggling of liquor from neighboring states where the prices are less. Also, there is an increase in the usage of spurious liquor and also, there are at least 40 lives lost as people consumed sanitizers instead of costly alcohol. However, experts say that there are other reasons as well besides the high prices.
“No popular brand liquor is available in the Government-run liquor shops in Andhra Pradesh. The Ruling Party says it is to discourage tipplers from drinking but the fact is different. The Revenue from Liquor shops is being diverted to welfare schemes and there are huge dues to all popular companies so they refused to supply further,” a Political and Market Analyst says.
“At this time, several small companies have cropped up. Most of these are owned by Ruling Party Politicians or their supporters. All they do is manufacture cheap brands with low-quality ingredients. The margins are so high on them that they can wait for their bills. Substantial share in the profits will go as Party Funds,” TDP Leaders allege.
Government-Run Liquor Shops, High Prices, and Diversion of funds – all these contributed to the Liquor Problem in Andhra Pradesh and Tipplers may have to pay the price with their health for this mismanagement. “The worst thing is that the entire fiasco is named Phase-wise Prohibition,” TDP leaders ridicule.
