Shillong: Amid growing complaints from existing wine shop owners about declining sales due to an oversaturation of liquor stores, the Meghalaya government has temporarily halted issuing new licenses for wine shops and bonded warehouses.
Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla announced on Tuesday that the decision was made to allow time for a thorough review and implementation of a new mechanism to streamline the licensing process.
“We have stopped issuing licenses temporarily. Our officers are conducting a detailed study to determine where more wine shops are needed and where their numbers should be limited,” Shylla said.
He said that many existing license holders had raised concerns over reduced business caused by an excessive number of liquor stores in certain areas. “Based on these complaints, we have decided to pause the issuance of new licenses until a proper study is completed,” he added.
The minister also assured that the government would assess the issue of wine shops located near educational institutions and places of worship. However, he clarified that no new licenses had been granted recently.
Shylla further stated that licenses are issued based on a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from local headmen, as they are best positioned to assess the sentiments of their communities. “The headman is elected by the people of the village, and his consent is crucial to prevent future conflicts or agitations,” he explained.
While existing wine shops will continue operating, any requests for relocation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Shylla also informed that district officers are conducting spot visits to ensure compliance with regulations.
