Discussions underway to revise liquor shop opening hours

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

It has been decided to revise the opening hours of liquor shops, and related discussions have already started, Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said yesterday.   

While attending the 23rd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Excise Officers Association, the minister pointed out that certain laws in the country regarding liquor also encourage people to turn to illegal alcohol.   
Commenting on the growth of illegal liquor, the minister said legal liquor has grown by 50% in 20 years, while illegal liquor has grown by 500%.   

The minister said that the spread of liquor shops has also become a reason for suppressing this situation.   
“There is one liquor shop for every 6,000 people in Mullaitivu district, but there is one liquor shop for every 990,000 people in Kandy district. In some areas, people have to travel about 80 kilometres to find a liquor shop,” he said.   

• legal liquor has grown by 50% in 20 years, while illegal liquor has grown by 500%