No liquor licences issued to current MPs: Finance Ministry

Although liquor licences were issued to owners of hotels, the Finance Ministry said today that none of the current parliamentarians has been issued with liquor licences.

The Ministry said liquor licences were issued to the owners of hotels approved by the Tourist Board after 2015 with the intention of developing the tourism industry.

There are 4,910 licensed liquor shops and 1,100 of them are retailers, 1567 hoteliers and 554 restaurateurs.

The Excise Department has issued licenses for 368 wine and beer outlets, as well as 200 toddy taverns. In addition, the Department has issued licenses for 1080 foreign liquor sales outlets according to the ministry.

“Any person who wants to obtain a liquor license, he or she could obtain such a license by following the terms and conditions imposed by the Excise Department,” the Ministry said.

To be eligible to apply for a liquor license, the relevant applicant should not have been found guilty of any offence during the last five years and he or she should be a taxpayer as well. In addition, according to the category of the liquor shop, the liquor outlet should be established in a place which is outside the specified distance that is to places of religious worship and schools.