Bhopal : The Madhya Pradesh government has introduced a new excise policy under which consumption of alcohol at 'ahatas' will be prohibited. Ahatas are areas attached to alcohol outlets where people can sit and consume liquor.
The decision to introduce the new policy was taken during a cabinet meeting late Sunday. Following the approval of the new excise policy, 2,580 ahatas and 31 shop bars will get closed across the state."It has been decided by the cabinet that henceforth all liquor vends will only sell liquor. All ahatas and shop bars (allowing consumption of liquor within shops premises) will be closed," the state government's official spokesperson and home minister Narottam Mishra said, while briefing about the cabinet meeting's decision.
"Further, it has been decided that the distance between liquor shops and places of worship and educational institutions, particularly girl schools, colleges and hostels, will be increased from the present 50 metres to 100 metres," Mishra added. He further informed that the state cabinet has also approved a proposal for making stricter provisions for the suspension of driving licenses of those who get caught for drunk driving.
