Cheers! Liquor Shops may OPEN between 10 am-1 pm if Lockdown Extends beyond 14 April

Cheers! Liquor Shops may OPEN between 10 am-1 pm if Lockdown Extends beyond 14 April

Mangaluru: It could be good news for beer guzzlers and hard-liquor drinkers, that Karnataka state may consider the sale of liquor for three hours between 10 am till 1 pm, in case the present covid-19 lockdown extends beyond 14 April, imposed by the Central Government. And if that happens, it would be an end for those dry days that people have been experiencing since lockdown clicked in. Sources reveal that the Karnataka government is considering making liquor available as incidents of people addicted to alcohol committing suicide and facing health problems due to withdrawal symptoms are on the rise, as per officials of the excise department. And also there have been incidents of burglaries targeting wine stores on the rise across the state since March 24.

It is learnt that the excise department has made a proposal to allow sale of liquor between 10 am and 1 pm if the lockdown is extended beyond April 14 and the Chief Minister Yediyurappa M will make a final decision on this soon. Karnataka had banned the liquor sale on March 21, four days before the nationwide lockdown announced by PM Modi took effect. Financial consideration has also prompted the government to mull over the issue as sale of liquor is the second highest money-spinner, after commercial tax, for the state government. As per the excise earnings for 2019-20, the government earns an average of Rs 1,800 crore a month. According to the current year budget, the government was hoping to earn Rs 22,700 crore and exceeded the target by Rs 450 crore.

As per a excise official defending the move, speaking to media, “The government is cash strapped since the lockdown has hampered revenue collection. It’s short of the revenue target by about Rs 5,000 crore. So it has to find ways to better its revenue collection by allowing sale of liquor,’’. It is learnt that Chief minister BS Yediyurappa ruled out resumption of liquor sale before April 14. “We’ll think of allowing sale only after that,” he added.

Fearing a sudden rush if vends are opened for only a few hours, a senior excise official said the government must allow “all liquor shops” to function for full day or permit only MSIL outlets to operate full time, besides issuing stringent guidelines for the public to follow while buying liquor. Oh well, all you thirsty people desperately looking forward for your favourite brand of beer or hard liquor, keep your fingers crossed, and pray that the CM makes a decision to allow sale of alcohol on 15 April, if the lockdown extends 14 April. Until then, cheers well in advance.