Cabinet planning effective action against unlicensed production and sale of spirits

The cabinet is planning to take effective action against unlicensed production and sale of spirits. The prime minister has given experts from the justice, health, industry and finance ministries a fortnight in which to produce new licensing regulations and control mechanisms which would enable the authorities to crack down on bootleg producers. The move comes in the wake of a serious outbreak of methanol-related deaths from bootleg liquor, which estimates say makes up 20 percent of the spirits market. The government is also planning to step up the fight against alcohol abuse by minors.