Despite repeated reminders from revenue officials to follow the laws, which in this particular case state that shops must create separate sections to sell liquor, these shops were found deliberately violating the legal provision.[break]
According to IRD Director Chudamani Devkota, 13 shops across the country found selling liquor along with food items have been sealed for not setting up a separate section for liquor. The action came on Saturday - the first day of the newly-launched drive to strictly enforce liquor laws in the country.
IRD officials confiscated liquors - both imported and locally-made - from 33 shops across the country for selling and distributing liquor without a license. "Out of the 13 stores sealed, 10 are in the Kathmandu valley.
Similarly, liquors were seized from 14 outlets in the valley," said Devkota. Devkota said around 2,000 bottles and 110 cartoons of liquor has been confiscated by the revenue officials.
According to Liquor Act, those selling liquor without a license would face a penalty of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. IRD kicked off a two-week nationwide monitoring of liquor shops to enforce existing liquor laws that envisage regulating production, sales and distribution of liquor products in the market.
IRD has mobilized 200 officials from its 32 offices for the 15-day campaign that followed a notification to sensitize the shopowners to obtain the required license.
Though existing liquor regulations make it mandatory for shopkeepers to separate liquor and general sections in grocery stores, implementation is still weak due to lack of effective mechanism to conduct proper monitoring.
"We will seal the shops and confiscate the liquor if we find it is being sold illegally," said Tanka Mani Sharma, director general of IRD.
A distributor of local and imported brands of liquors has to pay Rs 20,000, wholesaler Rs 12,000, and retailer Rs 8000 to get operating license. Similarly, a retailer has to pay Rs 6,000 for selling and distributing domestic liquor.
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