As of October 16, the long-anticipated liquor policy of the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has officially launched, marking a significant shift in how liquor is sold in the state. Under this new policy, all liquor shops have been privatized, ensuring that only quality liquor will be sold, alongside the introduction of digital payment options, replacing the cash-only system that was prevalent under the previous YCP government.

In an impressive start, new license holders have contributed Rs 330 crore to the AP government as part of the liquor licensing process, leading to the opening of 3,396 private liquor outlets across the state. The government-operated establishments closed their doors at 10 PM last night, paving the way for this new era.

From today, customers will have access to a wide range of popular and unadulterated liquor brands, with the much-anticipated Rs 99 liquor bottles expected to hit the shelves in the coming days. The state has procured liquor stocks valued at Rs 350-400 crore from the state beverages corporation, ensuring transparency in financial transactions—an improvement over the previous system that faced scrutiny for its lack of accountability.

Additionally, the new policy includes a 2% added tax on the landing costs of liquor products to support liquor and drug rehabilitation facilities. The previous YCP government had imposed ten different types of taxes on liquor; however, the NDA government has streamlined this to just six, which is expected to lead to lower prices for consumers while maintaining the quality of products available.