Andhra govt unveils new bar policy with reforms

The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday unveiled its new bar policy for 2025-28, focusing on financial sustainability, transparency, and long-term industry stability. Under this policy, the government has authorised 840 bars, with a 10 per cent reservation for Geetha Kulalu, a toddy-tapping community. This category will benefit from a 50 per cent concession on license fee, to promote empowerment, equity, and fair opportunities across communities. "The government of Andhra Pradesh issued the new bar policy, introducing wide-ranging reforms to make bar operations financially sustainable, transparent, and socially inclusive," said an official. Prohibition and Excise Commissioner Nishant Kumar says, "Government has issued new bar policy.

Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh: Prohibition and Excise Commissioner Nishant Kumar says, "Government has issued new bar policy on 13th August and today onwards we are starting the application process for open category bars. If we see the salient features 840 bars have been fixed for… pic.twitter.com/EXzsLwtcQy

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Under the new policy, all bar licenses will be allocated through a draw of lots. To ensure fairness and discourage speculative applications, at least four valid applications are required for each license. The licenses will be valid for three years beginning from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028, while the fees will range from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, with a ten per cent annual increase, it said.

The licenses will be valid for three years beginning from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028, while the fees will range from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, with a ten per cent annual increase, it said. Bars will be permitted in urban local bodies, tourism centres, and airports except in Tirupati where restrictions apply on sensitive roads near Tirupati railway station, bus stand, Alipiri, hospitals and temple routes.