KATHMANDU, Aug 1: A sub-committee formed by the Committee on Commerce, Industry and Consumer Welfare Relation of the parliament has said that the microbreweries are not viable in Nepal in the present context.
Submitting its report to the committee on Friday, the sub-committee said that though microbreweries can help tourism sector, existing legal provisions and policies, and insufficient homework from the concerned government agency has showed that the decision to allow licensing of microbreweries has to be withdrawn.
Acting on the suggestion of the sub-committee, the Committee on Commerce, Industry and Consumer Welfare Relation is likely to direct the government to roll back its decision to allow operation of microbreweries soon.
The 216th meeting of Industrial Promotion Board (IPB), held in September last year, had approved a proposal to allow restaurants to open microbreweries in their premises. The meeting had also decided to license new liquor industries.
The decision, however, had received mixed response from stakeholders, prompting the Committee on Commerce, Industry and Consumer Welfare Relation to form a committee last year to study the board's decision.
In its report, the sub-committee has also suggested that the government immediately roll back its earlier decision to license new liquor industries.
Urging the government to control liquor industries, the sub-committee said “the government cannot allow production and distribution of poison to people just to collect revenue.”
Referring to ban on production and consumption of liquor in different Indian states, the sub-committee said: “The government should ban production, distribution and consumption of liquor. If it cannot be done, the government should clearly state which age-group can consume alcohol and specify areas where liquors can be sold.”
According to the report, the government should immediately bring policy that addresses production, distribution and consumption of alcohol. It has also sought immediate government intervention to stop production of liquor in households, which, according to the report, is creating social disorder and evils.
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