Andhra Pradesh Retains 3,736 Liquor Shops Under Excise Policy 2026-27
Andhra Pradesh has notified its Excise Shops Policy 2026-27, keeping 3,736 retail liquor outlets from October 1, 2026, with renewal options and stricter monitoring.
The Andhra Pradesh government has notified the Excise Shops Policy 2026-27, retaining 3,736 retail liquor shops across the State for another year, from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.
Of these, 3,396 shops fall under the open category, while 340 are reserved for Geetha Kulalu, the toddy-tapping community.
The order was issued by Mukesh Kumar Meena, Principal Secretary, Excise, Mines and Geology, after a review of excise policies implemented between 2019 and 2024, the recommendations of a Group of Ministers, and the experience of the 2024-26 policy, which expires on September 30.
Under the new policy, existing retail liquor shop licensees can renew their licences for a year. Those opting for renewal must pay a Renewal Retail Excise Tax (RET) equal to 38% of the annual RET, in addition to the annual RET and any applicable permit-room RET. Annual RET rates for 2026-27 will remain unchanged from 2025-26.
For open-category shops, the renewal RET is ₹23 lakh in areas with populations up to 50,000, ₹27.2 lakh in areas with populations between 50,000 and 5 lakh, and ₹35.5 lakh where the population exceeds 5 lakh. For Geetha Kulalu-reserved shops, the corresponding amounts are ₹11.5 lakh, ₹13.6 lakh and ₹17.8 lakh.
Renewal RET must be paid in a lump sum along with the first annual RET instalment. A permit-room licence will be mandatory wherever applicable. Licensees paying annual RET in instalments must furnish a bank guarantee equivalent to one three-month instalment.
Existing licensees seeking renewal must pay a processing fee of ₹35,000. Shops that are not renewed will be allotted through a draw of lots, for which applicants must pay a non-refundable ₹1,000 application fee. At least four applications will be required, and newly allotted shops will not attract renewal RET.
The policy also introduces stronger digital monitoring, including an end-to-end Track and Trace system from production to retail sale, digital stock and sales records, and e-inventory monitoring.
Each shop must install four CCTV cameras covering the sales counter, stock area, consumer area and permit-room area, wherever applicable. The system will be linked to an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre. Deliberate tampering or disruption will invite penalties, with repeated violations potentially leading to licence cancellation.
Licensees must strictly adhere to MRP and refrain from unauthorised sales, spurious liquor, brand mixing and dilution. Unauthorised sale will attract a penalty of ₹25 lakh for the first offence, while a second offence may result in cancellation of the licence.