Crackdown on booze

Chandigarh: In-line with its poll promise to discourage alcohol consumption in Punjab, the Amarinder Singh government on Saturday decided to close over 450 liquor shops in the state. The government under its new excise policy for 2017-18 also announced to slash the liquor quota and ban sale of alcohol within 500 meters of national and state highways. There are 6,384 liquor vends in the state, it will be reduced to 5,900, a spokesman with the Chief Minister’s Office said. The decision was taken in the maiden cabinet meeting of the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government here, he said.