In the first step towards prohibition, Andhra Pradesh Government will take over 3,500 wine shops which will be run by the State Beverages Corporation and the Excise Policy will come into effect from October 1."The state has taken over 475 wine shops into the Beverages Corporation fold last month and the shops would shut down at 9.00 p.m," Deputy Chief Minister and Excise Minister Naryanaswamy told ANI.He informed that the previous government has allowed functioning of 43,000 belt shops which were shut after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took over as Chief Minister."Till now, 2,872 cases were registered and 2,928 people were taken into custody for operating belt shops and the government will take firm steps in stamping out illicit liquor. The state has registered 4,788 cases on the brewing of illicit liquor and 2,834 people were arrested," he said.He also said that the Chief Minister during his Pad Yatra promised to ban alcohol in the state in phases and to keep his promise in action, the ...
