Jammu: In a significant development the Administrative Council during a meeting under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has approved the proposal of sale of Beer and other Ready To Drink (RTD) beverages in departmental stores in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Administrative Council gave its approval for the inclusion of lax provisions in Excise Policy 2023-24 and Liquor Licence & Sale Rules 1984 of Jammu and Kashmir, in order to grant Licence JKEL2A for retail sale of beer and other ready to drink beverages at departmental stores in urban areas of union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Departmental stores are required to have 1200 sqft carpet area in commercial premises to meet the criteria.
Meanwhile the people of Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their resentment against the decision of Administrative Council. They said that a piece of sense should have been applied before taking any decision which may ruin public in general and youth in particular in the society.
The free availability of beer and other RTDs on departmental stores will lure several youth who otherwise hesitate to drink beverages and with in no time a large amount of peiple will become its users and,an elderly group of senior citizens told News Insider 24×7 digital channel and Public Herald newspaper reporters during an interaction here today.
The wine traders of Jammu seemed to be distressed and embarrassed with the government decision.They said it was not a wise decision and we have been suffering at the hands of earlier policy of Excise department and now this decision will crush our economy top to bottom ,they alleged.
It is pertinent to mention here that this reporter came in contact with a cross section of people in the society who unanimously opposed the new policy of the government that beer and other RTDs will be sold now at departmental stores in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.