In a landmark decision, the Maharashtra Cabinet has permitted the sale of wine in supermarkets and stores. Customers will soon be able to walk into any store with a minimum area of 1000 sq. metres to restock their wine cellar. According to a senior excise department official, the new policy on wine will replace the current one that allowed the sale through an exclusive liquor license. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claims, “Wine is not liquor. If wine sale increases, farmers will get benefit from it. We’ve done this to double farmers’ income.” Of course, the news created a frenzy on social media, both in the support of and against the decision. Here are some of the reactions: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maharashtra currently houses over 40 wineries, most of which are concentrated around Nashik. With the new policy, the state expects an annual rise in wine sales from the current 70 lakh litres to up to 1 crore litres.  Currently, the total turnover of the state’s wine industry accounts for around Rs 1,000 crore, and this is now expected to see significant growth.