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The Andhra Pradesh government has retained 3,736 retail liquor shops under its new Excise Shops Policy for 2026-27, with the licences valid from October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027.
Of the total outlets, 3,396 will be in the general category, and 340 will be reserved for members of the toddy-tapping community. The policy was issued by Principal Secretary, Excise, Mines and Geology, Mukesh Kumar Meena, after a review of previous excise policies and the 2024-26 system.
Existing shop operators can renew their licences for another year by paying a renewal Retail Excise Tax (RET) equal to 38% of the annual RET, in addition to the annual RET and applicable permit-room tax. Annual RET rates will remain at the 2025-26 levels.
The renewal RET for general-category shops will be Rs 23 lakh in areas with populations up to 50,000, Rs 27.2 lakh in areas with populations between 50,000 and five lakh, and Rs 35.5 lakh in larger areas. For shops run by the toddy tapping community, the amounts will be Rs 11.5 lakh, Rs 13.6 lakh and Rs 17.8 lakh, respectively.
Operators seeking renewal must also pay a Rs 35,000 processing fee. Shops that are not renewed will be allotted through a lottery, with applicants required to pay a non-refundable Rs 1,000 fee. At least four applications will be needed for the draw.
The new policy also tightens monitoring. A digital track-and-trace system will monitor liquor from production to sale, while shops must maintain digital stock and sales records. Each outlet will have to install four CCTV cameras covering key areas, with footage linked to an AI-enabled control centre.