The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to retain all the 6,596 liquor shops spread across the state.
According to a Gazette notification issued on Monday, which also lists the new excise policy, the government has set an annual license fee of Rs. 32.5 lakhs for areas having a population of more than 10,000.
The license fee structure is as follows:
Rs. 34 lakh for towns/cities with population of 10,000 - 50,000 Rs. 42 lakh for towns/cities with population of 50,000 - 3 lakh Rs. 46 lakh for towns/cities with population of 3 lakhs - 5 lakh Rs. 64 lakh for towns/cities with population 5 lakh - 20 lakh Rs. 1.4 crore for towns/cities with population of more than 20 lakhs
Making minor changes in the previous policy, the government has introduced a six-level slab system. The liquor shops have to pay Rs. 2 lakhs, in addition to the license fee, for room permit. (INN)