Now license to sell liquor in restaurants will also be issued in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, 12 November (HS). For the first time, the Excise Department has decided to issue license to sell liquor even to such restaurants where there is no arrangement for accommodation for the visitors. To do this, changes have been made in the Chhattisgarh Foreign Liquor Rules 1966. The state government has also made preparations to grant license to serve and sell liquor at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.

It may be noted that earlier, only those restaurants which provided accommodation for visitors were given license to serve liquor, but now these rules have changed. Now a provision has also been made to serve liquor in restaurants. As per rules, foreign liquor can now be sold in licensed premises at a minimum rate of 20 percent more than the retail selling rate prescribed for spirit and malt. In those restaurants which will get the license to serve liquor, liquor will be served only in the barroom. Customers will be allowed to consume alcohol on the same premises where they are dining. Apart from this, restaurants will have to arrange for a stock room and a counter to serve liquor. In these restaurants, only retail liquor will be sold in open bottles.

Licensees will have to lift the prescribed quota of liquor every month. If they do not pick up the prescribed quantity of liquor or beer, they will have to pay a fine. A fine of Rs 730 per quart bottle of spirits and Rs 155 per quart bottle of malt liquor will be imposed, which will not be refundable.