Stressing that the government's intention is to bring in foolproof security features to end adulteration, the official said: "We will ensure that the hologram printed at CNP will have security features more advanced than those on currency notes."
The liquor bottles that will be sold in the state will have holograms printed at the government-owned Currency Notes Press (CNP), Nasik, and not that of any private printing press.
According to senior officials, the state government, in order to eliminate duplicate and spurious liquor from the market, had asked the Excise department to make it mandatory for all liquor bottles to carry a hologram and barcode—with embedded covert and overt features. The barcode will enable the consumer to know when and where the liquor was manufactured and when it was sent from the distillery to the wholesaler and further to the retailer and if it is an original or a fake.
"There were controversies over allotting the hologram printing contract to a private firm. Besides, there were no guarantee that the hologram printed by the private firms will not be tampered with. Therefore, we decided to print the hologram at CNP, Nasik," said the official requesting anonymity.
"We visited many states and studied their model. Most of them are printing the hologram at the government currency printing presses. So why should we allot the tender to private firms," he asked.
When contacted, Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankude was not available for comments.
Stressing that the government's intention is to bring in foolproof security features to end adulteration, the official said: "We will ensure that the hologram printed at CNP will have security features more advanced than those on currency notes."
"To check whether the liquor is genuine or fake, all one will need is to scan the barcode on the bottle with a mobile phone," the official said.
He said the vehicles carrying the raw materials for the liquor distilleries will also be fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) and will be tracked round the clock. "The move will also fetch the government more revenue," he said.
What's special about hologram?
Security holograms are replicated from a master hologram—which requires expensive, specialized and technologically advanced equipment—and are difficult to forge. They are used widely in high denomination banknotes and are also used in passports, credit cards and other quality products.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "liquor bottles")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}