Govt. denies opening of liquor shops in Punjab
The Centre on Friday refused the Punjab Government on its request to allow the state to sell alcohol either through regular vendors or through home delivery.
Sources in the government said following the revised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for implementation of nationwide lockdown 2.0 to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, which prohibited sale of alcohol, gutka and tobacco products, the Punjab Government had written to the Centre seeking permission to sell alcohol in the state.
There was a request from the Punjab government to allow opening of the liquor shops in the state during lockdown but the ministry has turned down it, a senior Home Ministry official said.
“But after reviewing the situation, it was considered by the authorities not to allow Punjab Government to sell liquor during the period of lockdown, as exception can’t be made among the states,” a top government official said.
In its letter, the Punjab Government had mentioned that if direct sale from liquor vendors wasn’t allowed, the state could be permitted to allow home delivery of the product,” said the official.
In its order on lockdown guidelines the MHA had said, “There should be a strict ban on sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco etc and spitting in public places should be strictly prohibited.”
Meanwhile, fearing huge financial losses and job cuts, the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has requested states to impress upon the Centre about an urgent need to start sale of liquor in non-Covid zones.
Sources said, in a letter to all state chief ministers (barring states which are under prohibition), the CIABC has urged: “The state governments should take up the matter once again with the Centre to permit production, distribution and sales of alcoholic beverages outside containment zones, in conformity with COVID-19 guidelines.”
Two states, Assam and Meghalaya, allowed opening of the liquor shops in the first phase of lockdown, which was from March 25 to April 14. However, the liquor shops in the two Northeastern states were ordered to shut down from April 15.
