Ahatas, shop bars to be shut: Madhya Pradesh's new liquor policy discourages drinking

The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the new excise policy under which 'ahatas', or areas for drinking attached to liquor outlets, and shop bars will be closed. State Home Minister Narottam Mishra made the announcement after the cabinet meeting on Sunday evening and said the new excise policy is designed to discourage liquor consumption.

"All ahatas and shop bars are being shut in the state. Now, only liquor will be sold at the shops and places of drinking will not be allowed," Mishra, who is also the state government's spokesperson, said after the cabinet meeting.

The distance of liquor shops from educational institutions, girls' hostels and religious places is being increased from 50 metres to 100 metres, he said, adding laws to cancel the driving licenses in cases of drunk driving will be made more stringent.

"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been working to discourage drinking liquor so no new shop has been opened in the state since 2010. On the contrary, shops were closed," Mishra said. During the Narmada Seva Yatra, 64 shops were closed in the state, he added.

This comes amid senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti's demand for a "controlled liquor policy" in MP.

Bharti, who started her campaign with the demand for total prohibition, has now been asking for regularisation of liquor sale in the state, where the Assembly polls are due this year-end.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Bharti said the liquor policy announced by the state government is a "historic and revolutionary" decision and thanked Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on behalf of all the citizens, especially women.

The new liquor policy totally prohibits drinking sitting in front of the liquor shop. The decision to close ahatas across the state and introducing stringent penal provisions for driving under the influence of alcohol are special parts of this policy which make Madhya Pradesh a "model state" for the excise policy, she said.

Bharti said CM Chouhan has made it clear that the public interest is supreme for the BJP government in the state. The new policy also ensures that liquor shops for which there has been huge public protest will not be auctioned, she noted. The administration and elected representatives will have to be very cautious in the policy implementation, she added.

Bharti said the chief minister has fulfilled his commitment ."My elder brother (Chouhan) gave me immense satisfaction and pride personally," she tweeted. She said the new liquor policy announced by the MP government will become a "model policy" for other states as well.

Madhya Pradesh has already progressed a lot in organic farming based on cow progeny. "We will cooperate with the government by strengthening the campaign 'sharab chhodo dudh piyo' (give up alcohol and drink milk)," the BJP leader added.