The newly formed Congress government in Telangana, led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is reportedly taking steps toward a significant decision—to close down the “belt shops.” These shops, often found in villages, have been a source of concern as they are believed to contribute to alcohol addiction, particularly among the youth.
The state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, is planning to implement the closure of belt shops, and the Excise department officials are reportedly working on this initiative. The Congress party had included the closure of belt shops in its manifesto prior to the elections, and it appears that the government is now taking steps to fulfill this promise.
In Telangana, there are a total of 2,620 wineries, and in addition to regular wine shops, there are reportedly over one lakh belt shops in villages. The decision to close these shops aligns with the government’s commitment to address these concerns and fulfill its electoral promises.
With more than 10,000 belt shops on average across the state, the government has expressed concerns about the sale of liquor for 24 hours, the rising issue of alcohol addiction among the youth, and the illegal operations of these belt shop owners.
