Excise dept asks bars, pubs to give daily sales list to ensure politicians don't use alcohol to lure voters
Excise dept asks bars, pubs to give daily sales list to ensure politicians don't use alcohol to lure voters
Just before the general elections in May, the excise department had asked all alcohol traders to submit their daily sales list.
If there was a sudden jump in sales, the matter would be investigated to make sure politicians weren't using alcohol to win over voters.
While no politician was indicted then, excise officers want to make sure they have all their bases covered before next month's state Assembly elections.
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Their target this time along with the traders are bars and pubs, who have been asked to hand over a daily register of sales from September 15 to October 15.
As a precaution, we have decided to act stringently with bars and pubs too," said a senior official from state excise department.
The department will also crack down on illicit liquor that may enter Maharashtra at much affordable rates.
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Such liquor is known to come to Daman and Diu. "We are using the sales figures as an indicator.
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If legitimate sales suddenly dip, it indicates that the gap is being filled by illegal means. And if the consumption of bars goes considerably high, it shows that illegal liquor is coming to the bar," added the senior officer.
The department will also carry out raids on bars and pubs on dry days to stop the illegal supply of alcohol.
'Why us?'
And bars owners are obviously not happy. "This is of no use, as people who want to drink will drink anywhere.
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Politicians will not purchase drinks from bar owners," said Shailesh Agarwal, owner of Ontoes Pub, Juhu. Added Chandrahas Shetty, advisor, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association, "This is utter nonsense.
The excise department should look after the illegal trade practices rather then asking bar owners to furbish daily sale figures."
Did you know?
October 2, 8 (Prohibition week), 11, 12, 13 (Pre-election and election days) and 22 (Counting day) are the six dry days in October
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