Santosh Patnaik Amaravati

Insignificant development in giving a fillip to coastal tourism, Andhra Pradesh Government on Wednesday unveiled the guidelines to allow sale of alcohol containing low percentage at designated beach shacks.

In the order issued on Wednesday by Principal Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meena said after several consultations, they issued the guidelines for issuing bar licences to sell liquor at the beach shacks keeping in view Andhra Pradesh Excise (Grant of Licence of Selling by Bar and Conditions of Licence) Rules 2025.

According to the GO, eligible are - star hotels, tourism resorts and the Tourism Department registered establishments located along the beach having a private beach land parcel of their own or beach land parcel allotted by APTDC/DTC or any other competent authority for beach shack purposes. The premises need to have a plinth area with a minimum of 1,000 Sq. feet and a maximum of 1,500 Sq. feet, separate toilets and wash facilities for ladies and gents, a kitchen licensed by the local authority with full meal service capability, adequate parking, deck beds, umbrellas and fencing. The premises must have deck beds, umbrellas and fencing: Deck beds and umbrellas are permitted within the licensed premises for consumption of permitted alcoholic beverages.

Initially two shacks each will be permitted at Suryalanka beach near Bapatla and somewhere in Visakhapatnam on a pilot basis having due regard to the requirement, public order, safety and other factors as the government thinks fit. Beach shack bar licence will be valid for a tenure of three years (from

01-09-2026 to 31-08-2029), aligning with the tenure applicable to existing bar licences under the policy framework. Renewal may be subject to compliance review and payment of applicable fees at escalated rates.

The applicant has to pay a non-refundable application fee of Rs2,00,000 towards prior clearance and upon grant of prior clearance, he has to pay Rs10,000 towards application fee for grant of licence. The Annual Retail Excise Tax (RET) shall be Rs7,50,000 for the first year, subject to an annual escalation of 10 per cent during the licence period.

Permitted alcoholic beverages service will be allowed from 10 am to 8 pm while the food service may continue beyond the alcohol service hours, subject to approvals from the Tourism Department or the local body or any other competent authority. Only low-alcoholic beverages such as beer (including mild beer & craft beer), wine (all varieties including sparkling wine) and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) beverages will be permitted for sale.

The government reviewed the excise policies implemented during the period 2019-24 and prepared the way forward regarding the new approach to be pursued for the ensuing excise years.