The present set of private wholesalers will be cut out and West Bengal State Beverage Corporation is expected to monopolise the distribution chain. The private wholesalers and a section of state government officials who came up with the idea to partially copy the Kerala model have now reeled out arguments backing their respective positions. The most potent contention of the wholesalers is what Margaret Thatcher had said - "government has no business running business". "Excise revenue in Bengal is around Rs 4,000 crore, whereas in Kerala it is Rs 13,000 crore and in Karnataka Rs 15,600 crore. The government hopes to earn between Rs 500 crore and Rs 800 crore extra revenue once the corporation starts operations.

Source: The Telegraph January 18, 2017 22:04 UTC