Patna, March 20: The state excise department has sought an explanation from the depot manager of Bihar State Beverages Corporation Limited (BSBCL) over the issue of supply of beer which had crossed expiry date.
The assistant commissioner of excise department, Patna, Krishna Paswan, on March 8 had dispatched a letter in this regard.
The depot manager has been asked to file a written explanation regarding the same in a week. “The letter has been received today by the BSBCL though it was despatched on March 8,” a source in the department said.
The department has asked the depot manager about the conditions under which more than 7,000 cases of at least two beer brands were supplied to retailers despite the product having crossed its expiry date.
Paswan has also asked the depot manager to explain why the beer brands with an expiry date of March 1, were supplied to the different alcohol off shops on February 27, 28 and 29.
When contacted, Paswan said there had been many raids. “The department has conducted quite a few raids on shops and many bottles have been seized. I cannot give a definite number but the department has acted. The off shops have also been told to return the beer cases, if they have any, and not to sell them to the customers,” Paswan said.
The Telegraph had first published the report on March 5, which led to the excise department to claim that raids will be conducted and the beer bottles with expiry dates will be seized.
Meanwhile, members of Foreign Liquor Retailers’ Association said there were a few shops, which were selling the expired beer brands secretly. “The department must act more strictly and conduct more raids as there are many shops selling the expired brands secretly,” a member said.
Earlier, sources had said the beer cases were supplied to more than 20 retail shops in different parts of Patna. Consuming beer beyond the expiry date may trigger alcohol intolerance and if consumed regularly it may lead to diarrhoea, which can become uncontrollable and can lead to death, doctors had said earlier.
