No liquor sale after 8 pm in Rajasthan: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minster Ashok Gehlot has issued an order prohibiting sale of liquor after 8 pm in the state.

The order contains clear directives for liquor shops, to ensure their closure at 8 pm. In a letter marked to excise department, the CM said, "Those shopkeepers caught selling liqour after 8 pm should be penalised. Such shops should be sealed and licence cancelled". The order also directs rechecking the price of liquor being sold as complaints were received about many shopkeepers charging amounts higher than the Maximum Selling Price (MSP) quoted on bottles.

Recalling that the policy was in force under previous Congress in 2008 as well, Gehlot told officials, "Earlier also we had initiated similar policy to check sale of liquor in state after 8 pm to give a positive message to the society."

The CM also directed the officials to check smuggling of illegal liquor from neighbouring states and take action on complaints of charging more than the printed price on liquor bottles.