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:
➡️ No relief on Petrol-Diesel,but liquor made cheaper
➡️ Decisions to issue new liquor license
➡️ Schools-Temples closed but wine shops were open
➡️ Liquor ban lifted
➡️ And now sale of wine from super markets/kirana shops!We won’t allow Maharashtra to become ‘Madya’Rashtra❗️
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) January 27, 2022
Maharashtra produces 70% wine of India & 40% sale take place. In developed countries, 70 to 80% production of fruits like grapes used for processing – wine industry while in India, it’s mere 7- 8 % that deprives farmers getting good rates to their horticulture crops.
— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) January 27, 2022
Suggestion to #BJP Maharashtra leaders who are opposing sale of #Wine.
The best way to oppose would be to ask all your BJP leaders and party functionaries who own Wineries and Beer factories in #Maharashtra to shut those businesses and start selling packaged drinking water.— Clyde Crasto – क्लाईड क्रास्टो (@Clyde_Crasto) January 28, 2022
New Wine Policy in #Maharashtra. Cabinet permitted sale of Wine in supermarkets & walk in stores. Very good step as it will benefit farmers, Industry & consumers.
It’s not mentioned in Newspaper but I think New policy will also allow its online delivery.#newstoday #Pune#wine pic.twitter.com/9J5iKXcFQT— Rangroot/ਰੰਗਰੂਟ (@aadindesi) January 28, 2022
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.
