Naidu Unveils Liquor Safety App to Curb Fake Sales

In a decisive move to protect public health and restore trust in the liquor distribution system, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the Excise Suraksha App. This mobile application empowers citizens to verify the authenticity of liquor bottles using QR code scanning and location tagging.

The initiative comes in response to growing concerns over the circulation of spurious liquor, which has led to health hazards and public unrest in several districts. The Excise Suraksha App allows users to scan the QR code on liquor bottles to confirm their origin and legality. If a bottle lacks a valid code or is geo-tagged outside licensed zones, it raises an alert.

This real-time verification system is integrated with the state’s excise database, enabling swift action against illegal vendors and counterfeit manufacturers.

Alongside the app launch, the government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Mulakalacheruvu liquor scandal, which exposed a network of fake liquor units operating under the radar.

The SIT includes top officials from the Excise Department, CID, and Enforcement Directorate, tasked with dismantling the supply chain of counterfeit alcohol.

Each licensed liquor outlet in Andhra Pradesh will now be geo-tagged. This ensures that only verified shops can sell alcohol, and any deviation from the mapped coordinates will trigger enforcement alerts.

This digital mapping is expected to reduce unauthorized sales and improve compliance across the supply chain.

Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious liquor sales through the app. Anonymous tip-offs can be submitted with photo evidence and location data, which will be routed to enforcement teams for immediate action.

This participatory model aims to build a community-driven safety net against illicit trade.

The app’s rollout is backed by amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act, enabling digital evidence to be admissible in court. This legal reinforcement ensures that offenders can be prosecuted swiftly based on app-generated data.

Speaking at the launch, CM Naidu emphasized, “This is not just a tech upgrade—it’s a moral commitment to protect lives. We will not tolerate those who profit from poison.”

He also warned that any official found complicit in enabling fake liquor trade would face strict disciplinary action.

The crackdown is expected to:

Boost revenue by curbing black-market sales

Protect rural communities from health risks

Restore public trust in licensed vendors

Create digital transparency in excise operationsPolicy experts believe Andhra Pradesh’s model could inspire similar reforms in other states grappling with counterfeit liquor issues. The blend of technology, legal reform, and citizen engagement sets a new benchmark in excise governance.

The government plans to integrate the app with Aadhaar-linked vendor verification and expand its use to track transport permits and warehouse inventories.

Training sessions for excise officers and vendors are also underway to ensure smooth adoption across the state.

The Excise Suraksha App marks a bold step toward a safer, more transparent liquor ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh. With digital tools, legal teeth, and public vigilance, the state aims to eliminate the menace of spurious liquor once and for all.