<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has started work to implement total prohibition of liquor in the state, an idea which was part of his "Navaratnas" (nine programmes) for change.</p>.<p>At a review meeting on commercial taxes, excise and prohibition, held at his Tadepalli residence, Jaganmohan said that he will not seek a re-election in 2024, if he fails to implement total prohibition in the state.</p>.<p>Asking the officials to study best practices in other states, he wanted them to prepare a road map for "liberating" people from alcohol consumption in a phased manner.</p>.<p>He directed them to first crack a whip on belt shops— which are the extension of licensed shops through unlicensed agents— in villages.</p>.<p>“Liquor was flowing everywhere as the (previous) governments considered it a revenue source, ignoring the huge socio-economic impact it has on a predominantly agrarian economy,” the chief minister said.</p>.<p>“First we must increase the number of rehabilitation centers so that the alcoholics can be rehabilitated in a scientific manner,” he said and suggested awareness programmes to educate people on the evils of alcohol addiction.</p>.<p>If Jagan's plan of prohibition is implemented, only star hotels will be allowed to run the permit rooms.</p>.<p>TDP spokesperson Panchumarthi Anuradha while extending support to the government’s plan, asked on what criteria does the YSRCP government cancel licenses of certain percentage of shops.</p>.<p>“The problem of partial implementations is that the supply shifts from one place to the other and addition remains the same,” she pointed out.</p>.<p>YSRCP MLA from Vijayawada Malladi Vishnu said that several Islamic nations and the state of Gujarat were able to implement a ban on alcohol in an efficient way without affecting the state revenue.</p>.<p>"The household savings resulting from liquor ban particularly in the middle and lower middle class families can’t be underestimated,” Vishnu said batting for the prohibition.</p>.<p>Under the late NT Rama Rao, the TDP had brought in prohibition in the then united Andhra Pradesh. Later, N Chandrababu Naidu lifted the ban owing to the state's financial trouble after he took over the reigns of the party.</p>.<p>However, after the state was bifurcated in 2014, the residual state opened the flood gates for liquor making which turned out to be a major revenue source.</p>
<p>Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has started work to implement total prohibition of liquor in the state, an idea which was part of his "Navaratnas" (nine programmes) for change.</p>.<p>At a review meeting on commercial taxes, excise and prohibition, held at his Tadepalli residence, Jaganmohan said that he will not seek a re-election in 2024, if he fails to implement total prohibition in the state.</p>.<p>Asking the officials to study best practices in other states, he wanted them to prepare a road map for "liberating" people from alcohol consumption in a phased manner.</p>.<p>He directed them to first crack a whip on belt shops— which are the extension of licensed shops through unlicensed agents— in villages.</p>.<p>“Liquor was flowing everywhere as the (previous) governments considered it a revenue source, ignoring the huge socio-economic impact it has on a predominantly agrarian economy,” the chief minister said.</p>.<p>“First we must increase the number of rehabilitation centers so that the alcoholics can be rehabilitated in a scientific manner,” he said and suggested awareness programmes to educate people on the evils of alcohol addiction.</p>.<p>If Jagan's plan of prohibition is implemented, only star hotels will be allowed to run the permit rooms.</p>.<p>TDP spokesperson Panchumarthi Anuradha while extending support to the government’s plan, asked on what criteria does the YSRCP government cancel licenses of certain percentage of shops.</p>.<p>“The problem of partial implementations is that the supply shifts from one place to the other and addition remains the same,” she pointed out.</p>.<p>YSRCP MLA from Vijayawada Malladi Vishnu said that several Islamic nations and the state of Gujarat were able to implement a ban on alcohol in an efficient way without affecting the state revenue.</p>.<p>"The household savings resulting from liquor ban particularly in the middle and lower middle class families can’t be underestimated,” Vishnu said batting for the prohibition.</p>.<p>Under the late NT Rama Rao, the TDP had brought in prohibition in the then united Andhra Pradesh. Later, N Chandrababu Naidu lifted the ban owing to the state's financial trouble after he took over the reigns of the party.</p>.<p>However, after the state was bifurcated in 2014, the residual state opened the flood gates for liquor making which turned out to be a major revenue source.</p>
