Tipplers breath a sigh of relief after state government allows standalone liquor shops to reopen

The guideline stated that no more than five customers will be allowed to remain in a shop at one point of time. Not more than two bottles of liquor shall be sold to any customer, at a time, from any retail shop.

Biswabrata Goswami

KRISHNAGAR, 4 MAY: The tipplers in the districts breathed a sigh of relief as the state government allowed standalone liquor shops to reopen from Monday in green, orange and red zones, but not in containment areas.

The guideline issued by the government in this regard said only ‘OFF’ category shops selling, IMFL, and country spirits will remain functional and not ‘ON’ shops.

The excise directorate of the state government in its order (no. C-01/E dated 04/05/2020) also disallowed outlets located in shopping complexes to reopen. The sale of liquor for consumption ‘ON’ the premises is strictly prohibited.

It also stated that only those customers wearing masks will be given liquor and the social distancing norm has to be strictly followed. There should be a distance of 6 feet between two customers in the queue.

The guideline stated that no more than five customers will be allowed to remain in a shop at one point of time. Not more than two bottles of liquor shall be sold to any customer, at a time, from any retail shop.

Flouting social distancing, local residents in huge numbers were seen queuing up outside liquor shops in the districts like East Midnapore, West Midnapore and Nadia from early morning today.

The queues were seen as early as 7.30 am in some parts of East Midnapore and Nadia, but local residents were not confirmed whether the shops would open or not.

At Nandakumar in East Midnapore, the police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse the people who were seen standing close to each other flouting the social distancing norms.

In contrast to this incident, women in large numbers were seen queuing up in front of a liquor shop at Moyna in East Midnapore to protest against the Center’s decision on reopening liquor shops.

Holding placards, the women, most of them are housewives, gathered in front of a liquor shop maintaining social distancing norms and raised voice against the government’s decision on reopening of liquor shops in their areas.

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“We are protesting against the Center’s decision that has allowed liquor sale across the country during the lockdown phase. As the liquor sale had been banned during the last two consecutive lockdown phases, we were happy to see that our men were unable to have liquor. We were freed from everyday chaos and harassment prompted by our men addicted to the liquors”, said Arati Jana, a housewife in Moyna.

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Later, police rushed to the site and assured them that no liquor shop would be opened as the state government had no clear instruction on this matter till that time.

Due to this, people in these three districts were seen putting lines in front of liquor shops in the event of confusion. East Midnapore and West Midnapore are the red zones and people gathered in front of liquor shops are violating social distancing. The people standing there said that they have been waiting for the shop to open from 5 in the morning; however, they do not know at what time the shop will open.

In Krishnagar, Nadia local residents in large numbers were seen queuing up in front of liquor shops even after 4 pm in the event of confusion. As they flouted social distancing norms, the local police intervened.