LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Liquor Traders’ Association has opposed the recent conditions set by the state government for renewing the annual licence of liquor shops. They are especially against the state excise department increasing the sales target of English wine traders by 40%, beer sellers by 30% and country liquor sellers by 6%.Members of the association said they could not force people to drink more just to meet the department’s target.Traders are also opposing the quota system, saying it would only benefit distilleries, while they would be facing heavy losses.
At a meeting organised in Hotel Clarks Avadh on Tuesday, liquor traders decided to oppose these conditions, particularly the increase in sales targets. President of the Lucknow Liquor Traders Association, SP Singh, said, “In the policy of year 2019-20, no such condition was mentioned. Traders were not given supply for the first three months (of the financial year). That’s why they suffered a loss. Today, the excise department is judging traders on the performance of just three months, which is unfair.”
“Also, forcing traders to increase sales by 40% is unfair, as people have still not recovered from the economic slowdown. The GDP has dropped to 7.1%, so how can liquor trade increase at 40%?” he asked.
Singh said it was an effort to “return the trade to a cartel”, which was controlling alcohol sales several years back. “These conditions will wipe out small liquor traders, as they will Forcing traders to increase sales by 40% is unfair, as people have still not recovered from the economic slowdown. The GDP has dropped to 7.1%, so how can liquor trade increase by 40%? SP SINGH, president, Lucknow Liquor Traders Association be unable to invest such a huge amount in business,” he said.
General secretary of the association, Kanhaiyya Lal Maurya, said, “Due to the excise department’s wrong policies, 330 shops have already shut down in UP last year. Already, in our state, the commission on liquor is just 11%, while in some other states, it is 25%.”
Courtesy : Hindustan Times