In a recent decision, the Government of India (GoI) allowed states to give permission to begin alcohol sales in the country, thereby opening liquor shops in several zones. The Government of Maharashtra followed the same directives and allowed the shops to be open in green zones. Shops in red and orange zones were also given permission for alcohol sales if they were not in the containment zones or hotspots in Mumbai and Pune.
The decision was in effect from May 4, 2020, and ever since the shops opened, people were seen crowding outside liquor shops to buy alcohol, thereby 'quench their thirst.' Most of the shops have followed the social distancing norms and asked people to stay at a distance, owing to which alcohol was sold.
In a visual submitted by Mumbai Live reader, people in Chembur Colony, Kurla are seen waiting eagerly in the queue for the liquor shop to open. Similar situations were seen in Dadar's Shivaji Park area, Kalachowki, Ghatkopar, Kurla, Sion Koliwada, Kalyan and other localities.
People queue outside #LiquorShops across the city. Here's a visual from Chembur Colony in #Kurla where people eagerly wait for the shop to open.
— Mumbai Live (@MumbaiLiveNews) May 4, 2020
(Submitted by Mumbai Live reader)
.#Mumbai #LiquorShops #MumbaiLockdown #Mumbai #Lockdown3 pic.twitter.com/YiQCMFlEIQ
While customer themselves followed social distancing in many areas, it is said that Police had intervened at locations where people crowded to buy alcohol. Officials had to use a loudspeaker to announce the warnings asking people to maintain distance during the purchase.
Cities and towns designated as green zones were allowed to start their regular duties with caution, thereby maintaining norms. It is reported that people waited for hours to purchase liquor and lined up outside shops well in advance. Twitterati shared their posts and slammed the decision, stating that this might worsen the condition and may also increase domestic violence cases across the country.
#Maharashtra: People line up at #LiquorShops in #Mumbai after state govt allowed standalone shops including liquor shops to open from today except for the containment zones. #CoronavirusLockdown
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) May 4, 2020
https://t.co/3QgcuXE5cP pic.twitter.com/o6Z0EL7ESi
Men will be men. Long queues outside #LiquorShops since the easy in #LOCKDOWN2020. #Social_Distancing goes for a toss! @CMofKarnataka do you think this was a wise decision?
— Nithya Mandyam (@Nithya_Mandyam) May 4, 2020
PC: Aseef @TOIBengaluru pic.twitter.com/kwMKxgS0MS
Brave women of India. Doesnt care of sun. Doesnt care of anyone. We need the bottles. Thats it. Salute to these ladies. #LiquorShops pic.twitter.com/StubCge9ER
— #YoyoBB (@BabuYoyoBB) May 4, 2020
#LiquorShops
— Sandeep Kishore Jain (@sandeepkishore) May 4, 2020
Every person coming to a liquor shop post May 4 should receive a marking with indelible ink (like in an election). Such persons must not be eligible for free food and other kits. IF HE HAS MONEY FOR BOOZE, THEN WHY THE FREEBIES?
Tax payers' money is important.
Shocked to see today’s scenes at #LiquorShops in Andhra Pradesh. Common sense says that people will throng in large numbers, but there is no contingency plan from @ysjagan nor is there a care for social di
In aundh, Pune.
— The Blogger Buddy (@beingDJ) May 4, 2020
The craziness is at it’s best!
#LiquorShops pic.twitter.com/WhbwsT241W
Pune wine shops scenes with great discipline and social distancing 😂#LiquorShops pic.twitter.com/ofWwgA2aJm
— Meera (@meerawords) May 4, 2020
Long queue Outside Liquor Shop in Mumbai which Continues to be Red Zone. Well Done World Best CM Uddhav. #LiquorShops pic.twitter.com/MXXUkybFsz
— Narendra Modi fan (@narendramodi177) May 4, 2020
stance. This comes amidst the steep rise in #Covid19 cases in AP pic.twitter.com/gaPigym896
— N Chandrababu Naidu #StayHomeSaveLives (@ncbn) May 4, 2020
#LiquorShops opening of liquor shops will lead to more frustration and increase in crime and definitely more domestic violence. Wrong decision. pic.twitter.com/FOxI14iUGD
— Sumit Gupta (@Sumitgupta7862) May 4, 2020
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