Weekend Lockdown Not A Concern For Tipplers In UP As Liquor Shops Will Remain Open

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided that liquor sales will continue even during the weekend lockdown. Liquor stores except those within containment zones will remain open.

(PTI Photo/Nand Kumar)(PTI04-05-2020_000057B)

Lockdown in UP: Uttar Pradesh has recently decided to observe complete lockdown during weekends to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the state. While most of the establishments will be affected by the state government order, tipplers need not worry as liquor shops will not come under the purview of the order. According to media reports, shops can remain open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on all days except in containment zones where it will not be allowed. The decision has been good news not just for alcohol lovers but also for liquor shop owners who were dreading revenue losses. "Besides, during this period, various districts had started closing down shops at all hours, anytime between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., even though there was an order to keep them open till 9 p.m. Secondly, the weekend closure meant that we were losing a lot of our sales and licensees were finding it difficult to meet their monthly quota specifications. This would lead to excise losses for the government too and we had requested that liquor vends should be exempted from this rule," said Kanhaiya Lal Maurya, the General Secretary, Liquor Seller Welfare Association in a report by PTI. But the government has also said that timings for the shop can be decided by the district magistrates. Additional Chief Secretary (Excise) Sanjay Bhoosreddy said in the report that ‘if any District Magistrate wants to alter the time of operation of these shops, he or she can only do so after seeking permission from the Excise Commissioner.’ The Uttar Pradesh government decided to implement weekend lockdown after holding a 55-hour lockdown during the weekend starting from July 10 till July 13. During these mini lockdowns, shops and businesses except those dealing with essential commodities will remain shut. There are also restrictions on vehicular movement. The state has so far recorded a total of 58,104 cases.