The Udupi district unit of Akhila Karnataka Jana Jagruthi Vedike staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Thursday against the government’s proposal to issue licence to 1,500 liquor shops.
Forwarding the memorandum to the DC Dr R Vishal, Vedike secretary Vivek V Pais said the government’s decision to collect tax through liquor sale is one of the disgraceful approaches. Accor-ding to a report, the State already has 9,600 liquor licences, including 3,950 wine shops and 362 outlets selling MSIL liquor. Amid demand for banning liquor sale and closing down the liquor shops, the government is taking such a drastic measure, he criticised.
He said the Vedike has helped nearly 60,302 people to come out of their addiction by organising 911 alcohol de-addiction camps in the State. More than 20,000 people, who are part of the Vedike, have been opposing the government decision and it should immediately withdraw its decision, he demanded.
