Check overcharging of liquor, keep all brands in stores, officials told

NOIDA: The UP excise commissioner directed officials at a meeting on Sunday to check overcharging of liquor and maintain a seamless supply of all brands in Noida and Ghaziabad.
“Officials should ensure the availability of all liquor brands at premium retail vends and model shops in Noida and Ghaziabad,” said excise commissioner Senthil Pandian C.
Liquor vendors, who also attended the meeting, reported a short supply of some brands. Ashok Kumar, who owns liquor vends in sectors 75 and 74, said the supply of Johnson, Glenfiddich, Absolut, Ballantine, etc., is less than the demand. Officials attributed the delay in supply of these brands to late registration at the excise department in Lucknow.
The issue of overcharging of liquor also came up. On June 9, a resident of Dadri posted a video on Twitter alleging that a vendor was overcharging for country-made liquor. The excise commissioner directed officials to check such overcharging and take strict action.
R B Singh from the excise department of Noida said the department conducts drives and acts against such vendors. “On June 10, we arrested two salesmen at a liquor vend for overcharging of liquor,” said Singh.
Liquor vendors also shared their issues with the commissioner. A vendor blamed salesmen for overcharging of liquor without informing licensees. “The excise department takes action against the salesman and issues a challan of Rs 75,000 to the licensee. We feel the licensee should not get punished as they do not encourage overcharging,” he said.
The commissioner also asked officials to check liquor smuggling. Some people buy liquor in Delhi and Gurgaon as it is cheaper there and sell that in Noida.
Noida’s excise department logged sales of Rs 1,652.7 crore in 2022-23, up from Rs 1,346.4 crore in 2021-22. Ghaziabad’s revenue from liquor went up from Rs 1,474 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 1,577 crore in 2022-23.