Some states reopen liquor outlets

The excise departments of the Assam and Meghalaya issued  official orders under their jurisdiction; permitting liquor shops in their respective states to resume their operations from 13^th April 2020. Liqour shops were closed during the nationwide lockdown over the Covid-19 pandemic.

 Assam government’s order permitted liquor shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries to operate for seven hours daily, from 10 am to 5 pm.  The state government asked shops to  have bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitisers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash, and to maintain social distancing.

However,  Meghalaya government asked liquor shops and warehouses to be operational  from 9 am to 4 pm while ensuring social distancing and hand hygiene at their premises.

Here it deserves a mention Meghalaya has not witnessed any case of Covid-19 infection so far and there were demands from various quarters to open liquor shops in the state.

Kerala government tried to ease alcohol availability in the state but that initiative was scraped by the Kerala High court and a fresh PIL has been filed before the court to open liquor shops in the state.

Haryana government has also ordered liquor distilleries to start production, says a news report.