Wine and Liquor Sales remain suspended during Lockdown

The cumulative loss incurred due to closure of wine stores all over the country is reportedly Rs 17,500 crore so far. The state of Telangana has lost nearly Rs 2,000 crore while Andhra Pradesh incurred losses of Rs 750 crore. Liquor sales are major source of revenue for every state in the country and they are concerned about their financial resources.

This closure of wine and liquor is also leading to new problems. Alcohol addicts are getting hospitalized due to withdrawal symptoms while black market is growing. There are unconfirmed reports that in a few states, the governments are encouraging other means of liquor sales.

Central government of Narendra Modi has refused to allow opening wine and liquor stores for the time being. In a notification last week on April 5, the government while extending the lockdown till May 3, had said that the safe zones would have some leniency. Many were hoping that the sales of wine and liquor would be allowed in some format; hotels and restaurants have been anyway closed since the lockdown anyway.  

But it was clarified in the notification that no sale of cigarettes and wine and liquor would be allowed till May 3. Hopefully by then the threat of Corona virus would come down. If not, the lockdown may be extended and wines and liquor sales will also have to follow the orders. With the number of deaths in India crossing 500 and the cases on record reaching 16,000 and increasing, it is unlikely that the lockdown will be lifted even on May 3 and the smokers and drinkers would have to empty all corners of the nooks and corners of their own houses to search for the poison of their choice or be willing to pay up to 6 times the normal price reportedly in the black market.

On Monday last week, Assam and Meghalaya had allowed opening of liquor shops for limited hours under strict social distancing guidelines. However, following guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, both the states withdrew the orders and retail shops downed the shutters. Kerala had allowed the sales earlier this month classifying it as an essential food product but it was struck down by the High Court and the sale was stopped immediately.

What is the most important call of the day, is to Stay Home and Stay Safe. The population of 1.29 billion with hundreds of thousands still not taking the lockdown seriously, wine and liquor and tobacco consumption would have low priority for the government and us all, no matter what the revenue losses or the withdrawal symptoms are. In many countries, sales have been allowed online through despatches to off-trade which have even seen a sudden splurge in some markets, but that is not the case in India. That is our misfortune, but hopefully the Modi model is working better!!

Interestingly, the sales and pricing of alcohol products is in the domain of States, according to Article 47 of the Constitution but the decision to ban the sale of wine, liquor and tobacco including gutka has been taken under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 now in force throughout India.   

Subhash Arora

MHA Notification

WARNING

BEWARE: Many people have been receiving text messages from service providers, claiming to deliver alcohol to their doorsteps during the lockdown. They offer imported liquor brands for a nominal delivery fee at reasonable’ prices. With liquor shops closed due to the lockdown, this seems alluring for those thirsty for some booze. However, as many locked-down tipplers are discovering such messages are fraudulent. Upon contacting them, the ‘service providers’ respond with a brochure of brands to choose from, along with a rate card. Once you transfer a certain advance, they block the customer and vanish-editor. (Source TOI)

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