Liquor vends to open today; contractors firm on fee cut

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6

Even as liquor contractors are up in arms over the home delivery of liquor, the Excise and Taxation Department today issued orders, stating that home delivery would begin from Thursday and this facility would be available only during the lockdown period.

The orders, which now give May 7 as the new date for opening of all liquor vends in non-containment areas, say a maximum of 2 litres of alcohol can be delivered at home, but Punjab-made liquor (PML) has been exempted.

Liquor contractors, however, are firm on not opening the vends till the issue of reduction in licence fee is resolved. Deep Malhotra, a prominent liquor contractor, said they wanted the government to extend their contract till May next year and charge licence fee on actual sale of liquor.

Earlier, the government had proposed that the home delivery of liquor would be done till 6 pm (vends will be open only from 9 am to 1 pm). The new orders say that the time for home delivery of liquor will be decided by the respective deputy commissioners.

It say that each licencing unit (called group) can designate only two persons for delivery of liquor, who will be issued a card by the excise officials concerned. Even the vehicle to be used will have to be notified and to allay fears of contractors that the facility could encourage liquor smuggling, the government has made it mandatory for delivery boys to carry cash memo of the liquor to be delivered.

Directions have been issued for maintaining social distancing among employees and customers queuing up outside the vends. All liquor contractors who have deposited 50 per cent of licence fee have been allowed to start operations, while others have been told to deposit the fee before they can start operations.