TELANGANA: Wine shop applications drop sharply this year
HYDERABAD: Applications for liquor shop licences in Telangana have seen a notable decline this year. Against 1.31 lakh applications received in 2023, fewer than one lakh were submitted this time.
The Excise Department accepted applications for 2,620 liquor outlets from September 26 to October 18. By Saturday night (October 18), around 86,000 applications had been received. Officials said the final figure could reach between 90,000 and 95,000 as several applicants were still in queues late into the night.
If applications cross 90,000, the government could earn about ₹2,700 crore from application fees alone. Several wine shops reportedly received hundreds of applications each.
Multiple entries by groups and political influence
Some groups reportedly filed multiple applications to increase their chances of securing a licence. In several localities, groups of 10 individuals collectively submitted applications for two or three outlets.
Ministers, legislators and their relatives are said to have submitted more applications, while realtors and existing shop owners also applied in large numbers. Many filed two or three applications each hoping for a favourable draw.
Draw on October 27; licences valid for two years
The Excise Department will allocate shops through a lottery on October 27. New licences will be issued for a two-year term — from December 1, 2025, to November 30, 2027.
Of the total 2,620 shops, 393 are reserved for Gouds, 262 for Scheduled Castes, and 131 for Scheduled group. Successful applicants must pay the first instalment of the licence fee by October 25. Stock release to new shops will begin on November 30, and sales will start from December 1, the department clarified.
Fewer applications, but revenue stable
Each application carried a non-refundable fee of ₹3 lakh. Compared with the previous round’s 1.31 lakh applications, this year’s count may be lower by about 40,000.
In 2021, the department received 67,849 applications. Officials attributed the drop to the increased fee but said revenue would remain at last year’s level since the higher fee offsets the decline in numbers. The first instalment of licence fees will further add to government earnings.
On average, each liquor shop received around 40 applications. Saroor Nagar, Shamshabad, Nalgonda and Medchal saw the highest numbers, while Nirmal, Adilabad and Asifabad reported fewer. Officials also noted a drop in applications from Andhra Pradesh border areas as AP now follows a similar lottery-based licensing system.
