Bhubaneswar: While finalising a suitable and comprehensive excise policy, the Odisha government is examining the liquor policies of at least four states.
As part of the exercise to prepare a new policy, the Excise Department has deputed three teams of senior officials to Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to study their liquor policies.
During their visit, the team members will examine the excise policies as well as their implementation in the four states before submitting their reports to the Odisha government.
After getting inputs from the teams, the state government will take necessary steps to incorporate suitable components while giving final shape to the new excise policy.
The state government is expected to announce the new excise policy in the second or third week of this month. The new excise policy will remain in force for three years, sources said.
It may be noted that the state government had launched the existing excise policy for 2024-25 financial year on September 1 last year. The policy was supposed to remain effective till March 31 this year or the introduction of a new one in the state.
The state government had earlier announced that it would not sanction any new liquor (ON) shop in rural areas in the new policy.
This apart, the government had banned dance bars in Odisha. However, it had allowed the beach shacks to serve liquor to the tourists.
The state government has also announced that it would promote brewing of liquor from millets. Similarly, there was a plan for production of high-quality as well as flavoured liquor from mahua.
