By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Department of Excise will take stern action to kill monopolies maintained by leading supermarket chains by selling only their preferred brands of liquor and not utilizing their licenses to sell all alcoholic beverages as a whole.   

A senior spokesman of the department told the Daily Mirror last evening that the Excise Commissioner General has issued a circular to all liquor vendors in the country especially the leading supermarket chains that are authorized to sell spirits regarding this, which will come into effect soon.    The official said some supermarket chains don’t sell products of certain leading liquor brands and that they only prefer to sell or promote their choicest brands, for reasons best known to them.   

“When a general liquor license is issued to a retailer, it is their obligation to sell all the authorized liquor products in the country without having preferences. Maintaining monopolies like this will affect both the manufacturers and consumers,” he further said. 

• Maintaining monopolies like this will affect both the manufacturers and consumers