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Liquor shops open after 40 days in lockdown, social distancing rules taken for a ride – Times of India, The Times of India

Liquor shops open after 40 days in lockdown, social distancing rules taken for a ride – Times of India, The Times of India

People purchase liquor from a shop in Varanasi. (Credits: PTI)

NEW DELHI: Forty days into the national lockdown implemented to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic, India allowed liquor shops to open on Monday resulting in chaotic scenes across cities.
The Ministry of home affairs had relaxed lockdown restrictions last week which allowed liquor shops to open across the country. It had also asked people to strictly follow social distancing guidelines while purchasing liquor.
However, commotion erupted outside many liquor vends, as scores of people thronged there to buy liquor after over a month. Officials had painstakingly drawn chalk circles for buyers of booze to stand in but the social distancing efforts were thwarted as people gathered from early morning.
Shut down liquor vends: Urge Delhi’s RWAs; suggest odd-even formula
Nearly liquor shops were opened in the national capital in the third phase of the lockdown on Monday. Long queues were seen outside liquor shops in the Lajpat Nagar, Lado Sarai, which led to traffic jam in the area. The liquor shop at Sheikh Sarai Phase 1 had to pull down its shutter, as the crowd became unmanageable. Residents aid that people started gathering outside liquor shops from as early as 8. 150 am “Many were without masks, violating the social distancing guidelines,” said a Malviya Nagar resident.
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The Resident Welfare Associations (RWA’s) in the city have urged the government to immediately close down all liquor vends and review arrangements. Some even suggested the Delhi government to first review the situation and open the vends in proper phased manner to ensure that no social distancing norms are flouted.
“The government can adopt odd-even formula to control crowds, can think about home delivery of liquor on lines of the West Bengal government, can introduce rationing per person to prevent hoarding or black marketing, “said Rajiv Kakria, member of the RWA of Greater Kailash 1.
One such unique suggestion came from the General Secretary of Green Park Extension RWA, who suggested to rope in RWAs to distribute liquor. “Even RWA’s can be roped in for distribution of liquor,” Puri said.

In Rajasthan, provide mobile numbers to buy booze
A large number of people were seen queuing up outside liquor shops in different parts of Rajasthan on Monday 8 am onwards although the scheduled time to open the shops was am. At some places, people were seen maintaining social distancing while in other places, social distancing went for a toss with people eagerly jumping the queue. Police personnel were deployed at every shop in the urban areas to ensure customers were given sanitisers. Also, the excise department ordered that the mobile numbers of these customers be taken for any future action if required.
‘No mask, no liquor’ policy in Goa
Liquor shops opened on Monday in Goa after more than a month. An official said people observed social distancing rules while standing in queues outside these shops. “Wine shops across Goa opened on Monday but there was no rush as such by people. We have adopted ‘no mask, no liquor’ policy to ensure that social distancing norms are followed strictly,” said Goa Liquor Traders’ Association president Dattaprasad Naik. Goa has about 1, 2019 wine shops that have been closed since the national lockdown came into force on March .
Maha: Queues outside liquor shops amid confusion on opening
Tipplers queued up outside liquor shops in Dahisar, Matunga, Santacruz, Malwani, Kandivali and other places since early hours of Monday, but found the outlets closed. In some areas, police announced that the liquor shops will not open on Monday and asked people to go back home. Similar scenes were witnessed in Pune also. A liquor shop owner said that they got a circular from the excise department on Sunday evening, asking not to open the outlets. However, a day earlier, Maharashtra government had allowed shops of non-essential items, including liquor, to open Monday onwards.

Crowding outside liquor shops across Andhra Pradesh
People flocked outside various liquor shops across Andhra Pradesh in large numbers, flouting social distancing guidelines at several places. Crowds were witnessed at Porumamilla village of Kadapa district and Nuzividu road of Hanuman Junction town in Krishna district. People were seen gathered outside liquor shops in Ibrahimpatnam Mandal of the district but were later dispersed by the police. Muppalla village of Chandarlapadu Mandal, where a COVID – case was reported, also witnessed a huge crowd at the liquor store. The village is now declared an orange zone.
Tipplers throng liquor shops in Karnataka; police resorts to caning
hundreds of liquor shops reopened for brisk business, as tipplers stood in queues hours before their shutters were pulled up in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Sensing trouble on the first day of sale due to heavy rush, police personnel have been deployed at several liquor shops in Bengaluru, Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru and Raichur to prevent untoward incident and ensure law and order. “Our men had to resort to caning customers at Anekal on the southern outskirts of Bengaluru, as there was sudden rush and all hell broke loose when the long queue broke up,” a police control room official said.

Chhattisgarh to start home delivery of liquor. to avoid rush at shops
Meanwhile in Chhattisgarh, the state excise department, which has allowed liquor outlets to open from 8 am to 7 pm, is working on starting home delivery of liquor at some places to discourage crowding at shops, an excise official said.

After liquor shops open, paan lovers in UP also seek favor
After the opening of stand-alone liquor shops in Uttar Pradesh, it is the “paan” lovers who are now demanding that the paan shops also be allowed to function so that they can savor their Favorite not just taste but also for health benefits. The Yogi Adityanath government has already banned the manufacture and sale of “gutkha” and “paan masala” in the state and those addicted, are now clamoring for paan, which is supposedly a healthier option.
Himachal Pradesh: Huge rush at shops on first day
Long queues were seen outside liquor vends in Shimla, at the stretch between CTO and Scandal Point. People, wearing masks, gathered in large numbers without maintaining social distancing norms to buy liquor. With just one active coronavirus case in Himachal Pradesh currently, most areas of the state has been designated green zone. In market areas, large numbers of shops have been allowed to open, other than liquor vends, on alternate days to maintain social distancing.
(With inputs from agencies) In Video: Lockdown 3.0: Tipplers celebrate as liquor shops open for the first time since March (Download

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