In Two Days Karnataka Has Sold Liquor Worth Rs 242 Crore, Uttar Pradesh Rs 100 Crore In A Day

It has been just three days since liquor shops across most parts of the country opened for the first time in nearly one and a half months. And the massive queues in front of every liquor shops are anything to go by, alcohol is the one thing that Indians missed the most during the lockdown.

BCCL

The reopening of liquor shops is also bringing windfall gains to various state coffers which have been quite literally dry during the lockdown as tax revenues had dried up.

One of the states that are making the most out of the liquor mania is Karnataka. On Monday, the southern state sold alcohol worth Rs 45 crores, while on Tuesday it set a record sale worth Rs 197 crore. The previous record was Rs 170 crore on December 28, 2019.

BCCL

It is not just Karnataka, that has seen crores pouring into its coffers from the liquor sale. In Uttar Pradesh around Rs 100 crore worth liquor was sold in a day, while in West Bengal it was Rs 40 crore on Monday. In Delhi despite the ''special corona fee'' of 70 per cent levied on the sale of alcohol, hundreds of tipplers queued up outside liquor shops.

BCCL

In Maharashtra, liquor worth Rs 62 crore was sold on the second day since the outlets were reopened. However, BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi issued an order withdrawing the relaxations for non-essential and liquor shops in Mumbai.

Liquor stores in Haryana reopened on Wednesday after the state government permitted the same along with the imposition of a 'COVID Cess' on alcohol. States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab too have announced a hike in liquor prices.

BCCL

Notably missing from the list is Kerala - the land of the highest per capita liquor consumers in India. Surprisingly Kerala is among one of the few states that have said no to reopening liquor shops after lockdown restrictions were eased.

Despite the sale of liquor being the biggest revenue generator for the Kerala government, it decided to defer it till May 17 stating that it will be impossible to maintain social distancing, and could lead to a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

BCCL

Kerala's fear is not unfounded as there has been any number of incidents from across the country where people refused to follow social distancing while buying liquor. There were also incidents where the cops had to intervene to control the crowds.