Punjab Government is all set to start the sale and home delivery of liquor across the state from Thursday.
The state's excise and taxation department on Wednesday issued detailed orders to pave way for home delivery of liquor, except Punjab Made Liquor (PML), “only during the period of lockdown” in the state to avoid the unruly situation and long queues outside vends being witnessed by other states after opening of liquor shops following a month long curfew.
The orders read that though there is no provision of home delivery of liquor in the Punjab Excise Act 1914 and the Excise Rules, the decision in this regard has been taken to ensure social distancing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Only two litres of liquor will be allowed through home delivery to a buyer against a cash memo…People deputed for home delivery of liquor will be issued identity cards by the department and they will also carry curfew pass, as per the order…Home delivery of Punjab Medium Liquor (PML) will not be allowed,” stated the order.
As per the orders, the timings for home delivery of liquor will be decided by the respective Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioners in consultation with the Deputy Commissioners in each district.
The new rules framed for the purpose say each licensing unit can designate only two persons for delivery of liquor, who will be issued a card by the district excise officials.
Even the vehicle that a person can use will have to be notified and to allay fears of contractors that the scheme of home delivery could encourage liquor smuggling, the government has made it mandatory for these delivery boys to carry cash memo of the liquor he has to deliver.
Other than this, directions have also been issued for maintaining social distancing amongst employees as well as customers queuing up outside vends.
Liquor contractors who have paid 50 percent of the license fee to the state government will be allowed to open their shops, as per the order, while the government has asked others to first deposit 50 percent of the fee before starting operations.
Contractors who had deposited all their taxes till March 23 (when the curfew began) have been allowed to resume operations and others have been told to clear all pending taxes within two days of starting their operations.
At liquor vends, directions have been issued to ensure adherence to social distancing norms and arrangement of sanitizer. Not more than five people will be allowed to stand outside a liquor shop, the orders said.