The Telangana government has stated there are no proposals to open new elite bars in the state. Responding to questions from BRS members in the Legislative Assembly, Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao clarified that the Excise Act does not define 'belt shops,' though the department addresses unauthorized liquor sales. Since December 2023, over 11,000 cases have been registered for such sales, leading to thousands of arrests and significant seizures of liquor and vehicles.