The Latest from India – Punjab Adopts Slew of Measures to Curb Illicit Liquor

In its bid to generate excise revenue and disrupt the kind of spurious partnerships between manufacturers and transporters that have led to tragedies involving illicit liquor, the Punjab state government has adopted a slew of excise policy measures.

The measures include mandatory GPS linkage for detecting in-transport pilferage of ethanol, spirits, and other products used in the manufacture of hooch (illicit liquor). With effect from September 2020, all transport vehicles must be equipped with GPS devices, and the coordinates recorded by each device must be kept for at least 15 days from the date of delivery of a consignment.

Furthermore, all vehicle tankers must carry tamperproof sealing, applied by the distilleries before dispatch. The sealing can only be broken by the recipient of the products. Both dispatch and receiving units are required to maintain records and certifications to this effect for each tanker/truck.

If the vehicle stops en route in the state of Punjab for any other reason than a breakdown, it is assumed that the vehicle is being pilfered, in which case both the distillery and the transporter are held jointly and severally liable for civil and/or criminal action in accordance with the law.