Lockdown Extension: Liquor Shops To Reopen From May 4 In All Districts, But Conditions Apply

Home Ministry has granted permission to liquor shops to open again in Green and Orange zones as well as to those located outside hotspots or containment areas even in the Red zones.

The order, however, is applicable to stand-alone liquor shops only. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Soon after the Central government announced yet another extension of nationwide lockdown till May 17, Ministry of Home Affair (MHA) released new set of guidelines which allowed several activities depending upon the criticality of districts. In what comes as a big rejoice for liquor consumers, the government has finally given permission to liquor shops to operate in all districts, but with certain restrictions. While announcing third phase of the lockdown starting from May 4, the MHA has granted permission to liquor shops to open again in Green and Orange zones as well as to those located outside hotspots or containment areas even in the Red zones. The order, however, is applicable to stand-alone liquor shops only. A similar order has also been released for tobacco shops. Meanwhile, the government has also cautioned liquor shop owners to fully adhere to social distancing guidelines and maintain two-metre distance between all customers. The government order also stated that all liquor and tobacco shops inside malls or shopping complexes will remain closed till further notice. WATCH REPORT | Lockdown 3.0: Details About Relaxations & Restrictions By MHA Alcohol withdrawal symptoms have been on the rise, ever since the nationwide lockdown brought shutters down in all liquor shops. While for the users, it is just a question of their usual drink, for different state governments in India, it is pure revenue with which salaries are paid and projects are okayed. In the last 38 days of the nationwide lockdown, the states across the country have collectively lost an estimated revenue of an over Rs 24,000 crore due to no liquor sale. Given that the shutdown is certain till May 3, they will lose an estimated total of Rs 27,178 crore. ALSO WATCH | Lockdown 3.0: Know Relaxations In Green Zones As India will now be under lockdown till May 17 with a complete ban on air travel, trains and inter-state road transport for the general public while educational institutions, theatres, malls, hotels and bars will also remain shut. The decision to extend the lockdown by two more weeks after May 3, when the second phase of these restrictions was scheduled to end, came amid a continuous rise in the number of people testing positive for the deadly virus infection across various states, including in major metropolitans, with the nationwide tally crossing 35,000. The death toll has crossed 1,100.