Mumbai: move aimed at providing a greater domestic market for wine manufacturers and wine farmers, Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday was allowed walk-in shops and supermarkets of more than 100 square meters in the state to sell wine stored on their shelves.
Shops will need a wine sales license and will only be able to sell to customers with liquor permits.
Until now, supermarkets with liquor licenses are allowed to sell wine and beer in the state.
However, this must be displayed in a separate cage.
Some major supermarket chains have sold wine in this way for several years.
The latest decision from the Country Cabinet will allow small shops to sell wine without requiring a separate cage.
“It will help smaller vineyards that cannot market their products to have access to a larger market.
This will improve the wine industry in the state,” said a senior government official.
The Minister of Skills Development Nawab Malik said, “This will help wine plants in the state to expand their market and get better prices for their products.” Although Maharashtra is a leading wine manufacturer in this country, the sale of domestic wine is bad and dominated by several brands.
The state produces approximately 1.7 crore liters of wine per year, which is only 70 lakh sold domestically, officials said.
Wine in the state is produced through fruits, flowers, bananas and honey.
The opposition has slammed the step.
“We will not allow Maharashtra to Madya-Rashtra (Liquor State),” said opposition leader Devendra Fadnivis.
The cabinet decision determines that the shops that sell wines must be located in the distance from educational and religious institutions.
This decision will not be held in districts that have a ban on liquor.
Shops need to have a closet measuring 2.5 cubic meters, with keys.
The license for the sale of wine in shops and supermarkets will be worth RS 5,000.
Shops must also have a license under the Maharashtra and Act Compan shop, 2017.
Wine manufacturers have been welcomed by moving.
“This will increase the production and sale of wine to 20% -30%,” said Jagdish Holkar, President of the Indian wine producer association.
He said the country had 70 wineries and around 10,000 people involved in trade.
“The decision will build awareness of good quality domestic and import wine.
It will also provide better accessibility and increase consumption that is needed,” said Nita Kapoor, International Spirit CEO and Indian Wine Association (ISWAI).
Some small shops say they are not comfortable with the idea of selling liquor.
Some say it contradicts the idea of what is usually sold by Kirana’s shop and the owner will not allow it.
Maha: supermarket, shop 100+ sq M can sell wine
