Say Cheers To That

For the first time since the ’80s, Punjab and Haryana have been forced to make major changes in their liquor excise policy. Which will hopefully lead to more variety and lower prices. The earlier system of auctioning liquor vends had always led to charges of "encouraging cartels". Now both Punjab and Haryana as well as Chandigarh have gone in for the licensing system through draw of lots. The trend was started off by Haryana CM B.S. Hooda. Incidentally, for the last four years, drinkers in Punjab have had to pay cartel-dictated prices for their liquor, prices of which are now expected to come down by 40-50 per cent.