No New Liquor Shop To Be Opened In Odisha: Prithiviraj Harichandan

Bhubaneswar: No more new liquor shops will be opened in Odisha, Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Thursday.

“A decision has been taken to not give licence to open any new liquor shop in the state. We will come up with a new excise policy next year. Efforts are on to bring in some clarity to it. It will undergo a complete overhaul with an aim to ensure strict ban on illegal sale of liquor,” he told reporters.

Earlier, there were reports that newly-elected BJP government is considering implementing a gradual liquor ban in the state.

Stating that society is suffering due to alcohol addiction, Social Security Minister Nityananda Gond had said that the government would explore the feasibility of imposing prohibition in the state after consultations with the Excise and other relevant departments.

The Excise Department, however, had then denied any deliberation or plan mooted to ban liquor in the state.