Bhopal (MP Liquor Shop): The Madhya Pradesh government has introduced a new system to curb the black market in alcohol. As part of the new excise policy, a barcode will be placed on every bottle of alcohol, which will reveal whether the alcohol is genuine or counterfeit. The excise label (EL) on the paper seal will feature this barcode, and by scanning it, the purity of the alcohol will be verified. Additionally, the barcode will provide information about which warehouse the bottle came from and which shop sold it. This measure will help prevent the mixing of fake alcohol in bottles from outside the state. The government also plans to make liquor stores cashless. Billing will only be done through POS machines, ensuring smoother transactions. Warehouses will be made smarter as well. Bars in Forest Resort Areas Previously, there was a rule that bars could only be licensed in forest resort areas if they were located at least 30 kilometers away from the city and 20 kilometers from forest boundaries, causing practical difficulties. Many regions were unable to issue bar licenses due to this restriction. Now, this distance is being reduced, and resorts close to the city or forest will also be allowed to have bar licenses. Since licensing fees for forest resorts are lower, there was a risk of misuse, and the new system addresses that concern. Revenue Target and Earnings The consumption of alcohol in the state is steadily increasing, which in turn is boosting government revenue. For the year 2024-25, the revenue target is set at 16,000 crores. So far, through the renewal and auction of liquor shops, the state has already secured 13,941 crores in revenue. Additional revenue will be generated from other fees as well, and with a few months left in the financial year, it’s clear that alcohol sales will contribute a significant profit to the state.
