'Vegetable Markets Open For 3 Hrs, Liquor Shops For 7': AP Women Protest Opening Of Booze Shops

It was announced that liquor shops could open in the third phase of the lockdown under certain conditions in certain zones, and all hell broke loose. A day before May 4, Internet was flooded with memes and on May 4, the streets were flooded with people.

Social distancing was nowhere to be found and all 40 days of lockdown and preaching of rules seemed useless and thousands and thousands of people queued outsider liquor shops in various states ready to sing, 'do ghunt pila de saathiya'.

AP

However, unhappiness regarding the opening of booze shops is being reflected among women in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh: Women in Visakhapatnam today held a protest against the liquor shops opened in the district by the state government amid #COVID19 lockdown. A protester says, "Vegetable markets stay open for only 3 hours but liquor shops are allowed to remain open for 7 hours". pic.twitter.com/KdQgMGldnX

¡ª ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020

ANI reports, ¡®Women in Visakhapatnam today held a protest against the liquor shops opened in the district by the state government amid #COVID19 lockdown. A protester says, "Vegetable markets stay open for only 3 hours but liquor shops are allowed to remain open for 7 hours".¡¯

It is true, grocery shops and vegetable markets in a lot of places have been ordered to remain open only for a fixed time of the day - these are essentials. Alcohol shops, however, can remain open for almost one third of the day.

Not to mention that there are fears of rise in already increasing cases of domestic violence, as it is believed that alcohol consumption plays a part in the despicable act.

ANI

Many were disgruntled at the governments decision of opening liquor shops, but the fact that the state of Karnataka alone made Rs 45 crore on first day of liquor sale amid coronavirus lockdown, is an argument enough to defend the move.

However, various states are trying to come up with measures so that a fiasco like the first day is not repeated. In Delhi special corona tax of 70% has been levied on alcohol, in Chhattisgarh the state is planning to home-deliver booze.

The protest by women in Andhra Pradesh focuses more on the dire need to open essential markets for longer time so that it creates space for social distancing, while making sure everyone gets the required ration.

States need to come up with a proper exit strategy as the lockdown lifts, otherwise these very spaces that attract thousands of people will become breeding grounds of and for coronavirus.