Andhra targets to become Illicit -Liquor-free by Sept

Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary (Excise) Mukesh Kumar Meena has set a deadline of 30th September 2025, to eradicate Illicitly Distilled (ID) Liquor across the state as part of the government’s intensified drive under Navodayam 2.0.

Chairing a review meeting at the Prohibition & Excise Commissioner’s Office, Meena issued strong directives to the Excise Department officers, urging them to step up enforcement activities across the state. Special focus was placed on districts with high incidence of ID liquor, where he called for aggressive, targeted operations based on lessons from earlier campaigns.

The review meeting also examined efforts to tackle non-duty paid liquor (NDPL). While appreciating that the introduction of ₹99 liquor brands had curbed NDPL inflows, particularly from neighbouring states, Meena asked officials to maintain constant vigilance and stressed that retail liquor outlets must operate strictly within the MRP norms and prescribed hours, and emphasised preventive measures to avert untoward incidents.