Liquor Shops Open Across Country: Crowds Forget Social Distancing

Indians Forgot About Social Distancing And Queued up to Buy Alcohol as Stores Finally Open

The Centre has now allowed the sale of liquor in all zones, barring the containment zones, and only in standalone shops as the third phase of the coronavirus lockdown begins in India on May 4.

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a nationwide lockdown on March 24, liquor and tobacco shops have remained shut.

HIGHLIGHTS-

• -Liquor shops reopen in Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra
• -West Bengal allows liquor vends only in green zones
• -Kerala and Punjab say no to reopening of liquor stores

What do you need to know before you step out?

1.Which shops are open? Only standalone liquor and pan shops are allowed to operate in Lockdown 3.0. Those in containment zones or hotspots will not open on May 4. So, if the nearest liquor shop falls in a containment zone, it will not open.

2. What about the timings? The liquor and pan standalone shops will remain in all three zones till 7pm. In the guidelines for Lockdown 3.0, the Centre had allowed all non-essential shops to remain open only till 7 pm.

3. Also, remember that the Centre has allowed movement of individuals for non-essential activities in all zones, barring containment areas, strictly between 7 am and 7 pm. You will not be allowed to step out to buy non-essentials after 7pm.

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In Mumbai where the cases of coronavirus are steep, wine and beer shops remain closed. Few who reached the shops after news about opening were dispersed by the police. Reports say that there is no clarity on whether the shops will open in non-containment zones.

While the centre has allowed all shops selling non-essentials to be open till 7 pm, every state has specified the time for the opening of liquor shops.

The government has, however, made it clear that strict social distancing norms will be in place. People going to such stores/shops will have to maintain at least six feet distance from each other and ensure that not more than five persons are present at a shop at any given time. Spitting is already punishable in public places.

States had been pushing the central government for permission to open liquor shops as it provides a large tax collection for their depleting coffers.

The government had prohibited sale of liquor and paan/gutkha since March 24, when the first phase of lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.