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Posted: May 7, 2020 5:11:13 AM
Special Tax Commissioner Kantilal Umap said: “The two Mumbai districts represent 1,190 retail liquor stores. (Representative photo)
Mumbai’s decision to close liquor sales saw a 22 percent drop in liquor consumption in Maharashtra.
On Tuesday, liquor stores across the state had sold 16.1 lakh liters of alcohol, worth 63 rupees. A day later, after BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi decided to suspend operations of independent liquor stores and other non-essential outlets, consumption fell to 12.5 lakh liters, worth Rs 43.75 million rupees.
Special Tax Commissioner Kantilal Umap said: “The two Mumbai districts represent 1,190 retail liquor stores. The island city has 350 stores, while on the outskirts there are another 769. On Tuesday, around 600 of them were operating. They all closed Wednesday. “Claiming that Maharashtra is a state of banning alcoholic beverages, senior officials said a home delivery of drinks was unlikely.
According to an official communication from the excise department, 2,967 of the 10,822 licensed retail liquor stores, about 27 percent, opened statewide Wednesday. These included 1,036 country liquor stores, 355 wine bars and 1,576 breweries.
While the Center and the state have allowed independent liquor sales in non-containment areas, only 18 of the state’s 36 districts allow such stores to remain open through Wednesday.
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