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The Center allowed liquor sales at independent wine stores on Friday, as well as the sale of paan / gutkha and other tobacco products across the country beginning May 4, except in the Covid-19 containment areas.
The government has categorized the country’s 733 districts into three zones: red (hot spots), orange (which has a limited number of Covid-19 cases), and green (no cases).
However, there are strict norms of social distancing in force. People who go to such shops / stores should stay at least six feet apart from each other and make sure that no more than five people are present in a store at any given time. Spitting in public places will be punishable.
Liquor and paan stores within shopping malls or markets are not yet operational. Containment zones are those areas in the red and orange zones that have been sealed due to a large number of Covid-19 infections. Only essential activities are allowed in these areas.
The government order on the closure on Friday stated that anyone who violates the blockade measures or directives could be prosecuted under the Disaster Management Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The government had banned the sale of liquor and paan / gutkha since March 24, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the first phase of closure.
Since then, several states, including Kerala, West Bengal and Punjab, have repeatedly urged the central government to lift the ban on liquor sales, citing the depletion of state revenues. Liquor is one of the main contributors to the state coffers.
The International Association of Spirits and Wines of India (ISWAI), which has Diageo India, Pernod Ricard, Beam Suntory, Bacardi and others as members, had asked the union’s ministry of consumer affairs to allow stores to sell alcoholic beverages for a few hours during the day. .
Another body, the Confederation of Alcoholic Beverage Companies of India (CIABC), had also asked the government to allow the sale of liquor citing large losses.
ISWAI President Amrit Kiran Singh told the Hindustan Times: “We are committed to the government to maintain social distancing in alcoholic beverage stores. As soon as the latest guidelines come into effect, we will begin a program called ‘Secure Shield’ under which posters will be placed outside all stores on social distancing, disinfectants will be placed, there will be ‘contactless’ sales through trays stored in the counter.”
Singh added that the second phase of “Safe Shield” is to use online delivery platform services like Swiggy and Zomato for the delivery of bottles for which, he said, ISWAI is trying to convince state governments.
“This will release the burden on retail stores.”
75% of the size of the Indian liquor market is in retail, while 25% is in bar sales, which is prohibited. Last year, liquor sales generated revenues of Rs 2.84 lakh crore to state governments, according to Singh.
“Covid-19 will be around for a while, so we have to institutionalize ‘Safe Shield’ and home delivery measures in retail liquor sales. If we do this correctly, 75% of the income to the states can return, “he added.
A senior Interior Ministry official, who declined to be identified, explained on Friday that “the decision to reopen independent liquor stores in the three areas has been made as part of the resumption of economic activity that is directly related to the income of The state governments are free to decide where they want to open the liquor stores / stores. “
