Both country and foreign liquor sales had been banned in the tribals-dominated districts of the State since 1994 during the period of Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, but complete restriction of alcohol sale is not realistic now, according to Excise Minister Dr Damodar Rout.
Rout said this in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Wednesday. He said the banned outside Bhati liquor has been reintroduced since 1997 excepting in Kandhamal. And country liquor has been reintroduced in nine districts since 2001, he said.
liquor consumption is an individual affair and, hence, a ban would only encourage illegal alcohol sale and give rise to accidents. So, a ban is not considered real now, the Minister said. But he said putting restriction and controlling use of alcohol is the main objective of the State Excise Policy.
Rout stated this when Ray wanted to know whether the Government would impose a complete ban on production, distribution and sale of both counry and foreign liquors as a mark of respect to Biju Patnaik in his birth centenary.
In a related question put by BJD MlA Mahesh Sahoo, the Minister informed that foreign liquor shops are operating in as many as 747 gram panchayats in the State. While highest 51 GPs have such shops in Cuttack district, Deogarh has lowest number five, he said.