Telangana Liquor Traders Seek License Transfers, Larger Permit Rooms Ahead of New Policy
In the run-up to the next liquor policy in Telangana, a liquor lobby group, the Wine Shops Association, is pressing to reform the law such as full transfer of licenses, larger permit rooms, exemption of proximity to hospitals, extension of excise year and tax reforms.
Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy directs AI-based facial recognition attendance in all government schools, colleges, and universities; directs a green-channel clearance of outstanding payments; streamlines infrastructure through EWIDC; and makes investment in education and welfare of girls a priority issue on a high-level review.
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Exemptions for Urban Medical Zones
The association pointed out that the fast urbanization and building of more medical centers have made the current rule, prohibiting liquor shops near hospitals, impractical. They also sought exemptions in the limits of GHMC citing that hospitals do not present the same vulnerability issues as schools or religious institutions and that the policy should be urban-focused.
Permit Room Expansion
The other demand is the increase in the size of the permit rooms to at least 200 sqm as opposed to the current 100 sqm. According to the traders, the rise of this would better suit the customer traffic and would deter them from drinking in the pubs since it becomes hard to control in a small area.
Simplifying License Ownership
At present, the buyers of the licenses have to become partners with those who already have them to run A-4 retail stores. The association has suggested that the full transfer of licenses be made possible through a one time fee that they assert will lead to greater transparency and increase in entrepreneurship in the liquor trade.
Alignment with Fiscal Year
To make the financial planning an easier task, particularly during peak festive months such as Dasara and Sankranti, the association proposed that the excise year should run through to March 2026 so that the association could have the opportunity to make pro-rating on the license fees.
Overhauling Excise Tax Structure
They also provided a proposal to revise the current tax regime: to raise the retail excise tax limit of 10 to 14 times of the license tax, and the introduction of an extra 5 lakh annually retail taxes of excise. These changes are meant to strike a balance between regulatory regulation and business conduciveness.
Why This Matters
These propositions capture the sense of desperate adjustment of the industry to changing realities in the city as Telangana is set to implement its new liquor policy. As the traditionally strict rules are more applicable in the municipal areas, the traders are aiming to find the balance between the enforcement and the sustainability of operation.
The proposed reforms-spatial realignment to permit rooms to less restrictive licensing- are indicative of a wider-ranging modernization drive in the liquor trade of the state.
