STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: No IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) retailer, according to an existing Excise rule, can advertise or display any liquor brand. However, this rule is being glaringly violated by almost each and every such retailer in Assam, and that too, under the very nose of the State Excise Department and the respective district administrations.
According to an Excise department source, an IMFL retailer can at best display information like the name of the outlet, its owner’s name, license number, the name of the licensee, its location etc in a 3x2 sq ft hoarding. However, what’s seen in Guwahati is quite different. IMFL retailers use big glow signboards to display only the names of shops and use the space for advertising liquor brands.
Such a glaring violation of the rule is seen by all at the helm in the State Excise department and the district administrations. They, however, take no action against the retailers.