If a decision is taken to amend the law, then the bill will be tabled in the state legislative assembly during the next winter session.
It is actively considering doing away with the daily consumption permit in bars. However, a permit would be required when one buys liquor in a shop and carries the stock to another destination, even one’s home. Annual and lifelong permits will also continue.
A reason given is that the annual returns are too low (INR 1 crore) to justify the administrative burden.
“Bars and pubs are already permitted, regulated and licensed installations and regularly monitored by police and excise squads for breach of law. When the premises themselves are permitted and regulated, then why do we need to issue another permit to a patron regularly coming there to drink?” said a senior official with the excise department.
Maharashtra is the only state in the country that has not scrapped the annual drinking permit system, which was introduced during the British rule. Instead of abandoning the system, the state introduced it for daily and lifelong consumption in 2005-06. Eventually, the system was to be made online but the plan did not take off. Rakesh Kumar, principal secretary, excise department, said the proposal was still at the discussion stage.
If a decision is taken to amend the law, then the bill will be tabled in the state legislative assembly during the next winter session.
Although the state’s average annual collection through permits ranges from INR 75 lakh to 1 crore, daily permits (INR 2 & 5) issued inside bars, clubs and pubs fetch INR 50-55 lakh. A total of 20-22 lakh permits in various categories – daily, annual and lifelong – are sold every year. In Mumbai region, revenue collection through these permits is barely INR 25-30 lakh. “A look at the collection shows it is very negligible and if withdrawn will not translate into a major revenue loss to the government,” said sources close to excise minister Eknath Khadse.
