<p>The Government has taken this decision to meet the excise revenue target of Rs 6,700 crore for the period 2009-10.<br /><br />The MSIL will establish 431 outlets across the State and sell liquor at MRP. MSIL was into retail and wholesale business of liquor till 2005, when Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited came into existence. <br /><br />Excise Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, on Thursday, told press persons the government had issued 7,951 licences to set up wine shops and bars in the State. Of them only 7,500 had been in use. The remaining 451 remained unused for various reasons. The government had asked MSIL to make use of the 431 licences at present.<br /><br />The State collected excise revenue of Rs 4,200 crore in the year 2007-08. The target was Rs 5,400 crore in the year 2008-09 and the collection was Rs 5,700 crore, thus exceeding the target by Rs 300 crore. For the year 2009-10 the government has fixed the target of Rs 6,700 crore and hopes to exceed the target by Rs 1,000 crore. “The government is hopeful that allowing MSIL to set up retail outlets will help to meet the target.” <br /><br />Demand in rural areas<br /><br />The minister said that liquor sales had been brisk in rural areas compared to urban areas. “Demand for liquor is more in rural areas, where wine shops are less in number. <br /><br />This has given rise to illegal sale of liquor in petty shops. MSIL will be setting up its outlets in rural areas, where there are no wine shops. Our aim is to have an outlet within the range of five to eight kilometres,” he said.<br /><br />The licences, which remain unused consist both CL2 (wine shops) and CL9 (bars and restaurants). However, MSIL will not be setting up bars and restaurants (CL9). It would restrict itself to setting up only retail outlets. According to sources in MSIL, the agency had set up two outlets each in all district head quarters in the State. Two each would be set up in the limits of 176 taluks. The rest would be set up as per the requirements.<br /><br />Bangalore is expected to get around 25 outlets. It already has over 2,500 wine shops, bars and restaurants. MSIL would identify places to set outlets in a month’s time and outsource the business. MSIL would get 10 per cent profit-margin as in case of private licence-holders. Naidu said the government would increase the outlets, if found necessary.<br /><br />The minister said, the government will set up 135 excise police stations with the objective of curtailing illegal sale of liquor, sale of liquor at prices higher than MRP and manufacturing of hooch. <br /><br />Highlights<br /><br />* MSIL to set up retail liquor outlets<br />* It gets 10 pc profit-margin as any other licence-holder<br />* 2 outlets each in all district headquarters and taluk areas<br />* Customers get drinks at MRP</p>
<p>The Government has taken this decision to meet the excise revenue target of Rs 6,700 crore for the period 2009-10.<br /><br />The MSIL will establish 431 outlets across the State and sell liquor at MRP. MSIL was into retail and wholesale business of liquor till 2005, when Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Limited came into existence. <br /><br />Excise Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, on Thursday, told press persons the government had issued 7,951 licences to set up wine shops and bars in the State. Of them only 7,500 had been in use. The remaining 451 remained unused for various reasons. The government had asked MSIL to make use of the 431 licences at present.<br /><br />The State collected excise revenue of Rs 4,200 crore in the year 2007-08. The target was Rs 5,400 crore in the year 2008-09 and the collection was Rs 5,700 crore, thus exceeding the target by Rs 300 crore. For the year 2009-10 the government has fixed the target of Rs 6,700 crore and hopes to exceed the target by Rs 1,000 crore. “The government is hopeful that allowing MSIL to set up retail outlets will help to meet the target.” <br /><br />Demand in rural areas<br /><br />The minister said that liquor sales had been brisk in rural areas compared to urban areas. “Demand for liquor is more in rural areas, where wine shops are less in number. <br /><br />This has given rise to illegal sale of liquor in petty shops. MSIL will be setting up its outlets in rural areas, where there are no wine shops. Our aim is to have an outlet within the range of five to eight kilometres,” he said.<br /><br />The licences, which remain unused consist both CL2 (wine shops) and CL9 (bars and restaurants). However, MSIL will not be setting up bars and restaurants (CL9). It would restrict itself to setting up only retail outlets. According to sources in MSIL, the agency had set up two outlets each in all district head quarters in the State. Two each would be set up in the limits of 176 taluks. The rest would be set up as per the requirements.<br /><br />Bangalore is expected to get around 25 outlets. It already has over 2,500 wine shops, bars and restaurants. MSIL would identify places to set outlets in a month’s time and outsource the business. MSIL would get 10 per cent profit-margin as in case of private licence-holders. Naidu said the government would increase the outlets, if found necessary.<br /><br />The minister said, the government will set up 135 excise police stations with the objective of curtailing illegal sale of liquor, sale of liquor at prices higher than MRP and manufacturing of hooch. <br /><br />Highlights<br /><br />* MSIL to set up retail liquor outlets<br />* It gets 10 pc profit-margin as any other licence-holder<br />* 2 outlets each in all district headquarters and taluk areas<br />* Customers get drinks at MRP</p>
