In a major step towards ensuring transparency in liquor sales, the government has decided to inscribe e-labels with QR codes on liquor bottles being sold in the state.
The move is aimed at reducing the illegal sales of liquor as the QR code will help the authorities to easily scan and track the point of origin, point of sales and authenticity of liquor bottles. The order in this regard was issued by the taxes department.
As per rule 26 of the foreign liquor rules, 1953, it is mandatory to affix security labels over the liquor bottles being sold in the state. At present, the security labels are fixed manually at warehouses ofKeralastate beverages corporation. TheIMFLbottles, which are stored in the warehouses, are taken out only after affixing the security labels issued by the excise department and verified by excise officials posted in each warehouse.