Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru , Dec 14: The state government which had banned cheap liquor in the state years back and which said it would never allow cheap liquor to come back again, has made a compromise. It has started negotiating with liquor companies to introduce cheap liquor in the state ‘which has quality.’

The news has come from the mouth of excise minister himself. “The chief minister still wants to make available cheap liquor in the state. But he wants to make sure that it is not of inferior quality. So we are trying to know whether it is possible to get quality liquor at a cheaper price. Hence we are talking to different liquor manufacturers.” State excise minister Manohar H Tahasildar said on Sunday, December 13.

He also said that more liquor outlets managed by Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) will be opened soon in the state. MSIL has opened 456 shops out of which 407 shops are presently functional.

The use of Neera, which is a toddy based drink, will also be encouraged in the state. More research will be done on it, said the excise minister.

Rs 15,000 crore is the next target in the excise collections, the minister revealed.