Stock of liquor shops to be verified in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Excise Department today asked District Collectors to conduct stock verification at foreign liquor ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ shops within a week and submit a report to the department.

In a letter, the Excise Department Secretary S.K. Lohani said Executive Magistrate / Revenue Officers must carry out the stock verification. While conducting the stock verification as on the date of lockdown, it will be prudent to take into account the last stock lifting details prior to the lockdown from OSBC (available with Excise Officers), the daily average sales figures maintained by retailers as well as the details of home delivery executed during the current period, the letter read.

With the introduction of policy regarding home delivery by the FL ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ shop licensees, all these licensees have been allowed to sell the remaining stocks of 2019-20 available with them at the time of closure (i.e. after the closure of business hour on 20.3.2020 in case of F.L ‘ON’ shops and on 22nd/ 24th of March, 2020 in case of F.L OFF shops) at the enhanced MRP of 2020-21.

The licensees have been instructed to deposit the differential amount (i.e. MRP of 2020-21- MRP of 2019-20) with OSBC Ltd.

On May 23, 2020, the Odisha government imposed ‘Special Covid Fee’ on all IMFL, Beer, Wine and RTD (Ready to Drink) sold in the State. After the imposition of the Special Covid Fee, the MRP of 2020-21 has increased substantially.