Lockdown in India: Will liquor stores be reopened?
Since India was placed under lockdown on March 25, there have been reports of liquor stores being looted and black marketing of alcohol in several states. Judging by the public mood, it seems people are not too happy about the ban on alcohol sales. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to announce a lockdown extension, some states have appealed for reopening liquor stores.
Several CMs asked Modi to keep liquor stores open
During a meeting with Chief Ministers of all states on Saturday, Modi reportedly decided to extend the lockdown by two weeks. Officials privy to what went on in the four-hour-long meeting told PTI that liquor stores may be kept open during the extended lockdown. Reportedly, several CMs had called for keeping liquor stores open as they are a sizable source of revenue.
Liquor makers' body seeks permission for online deliveries
The International Spirits & Wine Association of India (ISWAI)—a body representing India's largest liquor makers—has also requested central and state governments to consider online and on-call sale of alcohol. The ISWAI represents Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Allied Blenders & Distillers, Brown-Forman, Bacardi, Mohan Meakin, and Radico Khaitan. The request has been made to allow the sale of liquor in areas that are not COVID-19 hotspots.
Lockdown will be relaxed in some regions, tightened in others
According to PTI, the Centre is planning to divide regions across India into three categories: red zone (hotspots and badly-affected regions), orange zone, and green zone (no COVID-19 cases). The strictness of the lockdown will reportedly depend on each zone.
Assam, Meghalaya allowed liquor stores to remain open
Starting Monday, Assam allowed liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries to remain open between 10 am to 5 pm every day. The Meghalaya government has also allowed liquor stores and bonded warehouses to remain open from 9 am to 4 pm between April 13 to April 17. However, the order listed the condition of strict compliance with social distancing norms.
Will Karnataka be next?
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government on Monday unveiled a plan to revive the state's economy amid the lockdown. The Hindu Business Line reported, the government mentioned that the ban on liquor sales has resulted in a loss of Rs. 1,800 crore in excise revenues. The state is awaiting the Centre's guidelines on the extended lockdown to decide on opening liquor stores.
