Jagan Succeeded With His Strategy

Chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s strategy to check the belt shops and increase the price of liquor to wean people away from consumption of alcohol has given the desired result.

According to the officials, consumption of liquor had dropped from 384.31 lakh cases in 2018-19 to 278.5 lakh cases in 2021-22. They informed the CM that sale of beer also came down from 277.20 lakh cases to 82.6 lakh cases.

However, the revenue from the sale of liquor increased from 20,128 crore to Rs 25,023 crore due to a steep hike in the prices.

The officials also told Jagan that a total of 20,127 cases were registered relating to manufacture and trade of illicit liquor while 16,27 were arrested for their involvement in the illegal activity.

Given the huge income from liquor and the YCP government”s eagerness to draw loans heavily in the name of AP Beverages Corporation, will Jagan be committed to his word on implementing prohibition in Andhra Pradesh, asked senior the opposition leaders.

Prohibition is just a false promise made in haste by the CM during his padayatra and campaigning, pointed out the TDP leaders. Jagan is depending on the revenue generated from the sale of liquor and he is even diverting the funds earned through that source, they reminded.