Madhya Pradesh: 'Ahatas', Shop Bars To Be Shut Under Shivraj Govt's New Liquor Policy

The government of Madhya Pradesh has approved a new excise policy. The distance between liquor stores and educational and religious institutions will be increased, and shop bars will be closed.

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The Madhya Pradesh government approved a new excise policy on Sunday. This will result in the closure of 'ahatas' (areas attached to a liquor shop for people to drink) and shop bars. The declaration was made following a cabinet meeting on Sunday evening, news agency PTI reported. 

"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been working to discourage drinking liquor so no new shop was opened in the state since 2010. On the contrary, shops were closed. During Narmada Seva Yatra, 64 shops were closed in the state. The new excise policy is also designed to discourage liquor consumption, "Narottam Mishra, the state's Home Minister, stated, according to PTI. 

The announcement comes in the wake of senior BJP leader Uma Bharti's call for a "controlled liquor policy" in Madhya Pradesh. Uma Bharti had earlier campaigned for absolute prohibition of booze in the state, suggesting that if the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government accepted her position, the BJP may receive a record number of votes from women in the approaching assembly elections.

Here's What You Should Know About Madhya Pradesh’s New Excise Policy: 

• In the state, all ahatas and store bars have been closed. From now on, liquor will be sold in stores, and drinking establishments will be prohibited.
• The distance between liquor stores and educational institutions, females' hostels, and religious organisations is being extended from 50 to 100 metres.
• Driving licence suspension laws will be tightened in situations of drunk driving.
• According to reports, the new excise policy will go into force on April 1, albeit no formal announcement has yet been made.
• Uma Bharti has been campaigning against alcohol consumption and has encouraged the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government not to profit from people's drinking habits through a lenient excise policy.

(With Inputs From Agencies)