Permission For Liquor Sale Sought By Fair Price Shop Dealers’ Forum

The All India Fair Price Shop Dealers' Federation, based in Kolkata, has sought permission for the sale of alcoholic beverages through their network of fair price shops or ration shops.

The Federation's national General Secretary, Biswambhar Basu told IANS that he had already forwarded a letter to the Union Food and Public Distribution Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey in the same regard. A copy of this has also been forwarded to Union Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal. "I am already in New Delhi and scheduled to have a meeting with Pandey on this count on Tuesday. In the meeting I will explain to him why it has become necessary to allow the fair price shop dealers to sell liquor," Basu said.

“In Delhi, liquor is allowed to be sold from registered fair price shops there. Currently, in India, there are 5,37,868 fair price shops. Excluding those which are in states like Bihar and Gujarat, where the state's own prohibition law exists, our demand is that all other fair-price shops in the country should be allowed to sell liquor. Already running fair-price shops has become extremely difficult for the owners because of the extremely low margins. Our profit will shrink further from next month following the decision to discontinue the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme. In view of the current situation, we request the Union government to allow us to sell alcoholic beverages from licensed manufacturers through fair price shops which will also help the state governments to increase their revenue through state excise," Basu emphasised.

He also added that the sale of alcoholic beverages through fair price shops will also be ensuring no spurious or adulterated liquor sale to the public.