TS rushes to buy liquor, 1 dead

● THE TOTAL liquor sales on Wednesday in Telangana was estimated to be between `80 crore and `100 crore ● A DRUNKEN brawl in Warangal resulted in the death of a man

Telangana witnessed an extraordinary discipline among thousands of people who lined up near liquor shops at most places to buy alcohol on Wednesday. In some parts of the city, however, people jostled and got into arguments in desperation to get their hands on liquor, throwing all caution to the wind.

Though the day passed off peacefully at most places in the state, a drunken brawl was reported from Warangal, which resulted in the death of a man. Incidents of people not maintaining physical distance and not wearing face masks as mandated by the government for the purchase of liquor were reported from Nizamabad, where the police had to resort to a mild lathicharge. Reports of overcharging by liquor shop owners came from several districts, including Adilabad, and Khammam. Though the government had anno-unced a hike in liquor price on Tuesday — 11 per cent on cheap liquor and 16 per cent on branded liquor, shop owners at many places chose to charge an extra 10 per cent or more from the buyers. The overcharging too did not deter those standing in long queues under the scorching sun from buying their booze.

The total liquor sales on Wednesday in Telangana was estimated to be between `80 crore to `100 crore. One of the customers, P. Ramesh, who stood almost two hours in the queue to buy liquor said, “They are charging more money than the MRP. Although the government had announced a 16 per cent increase on the prices, they are selling us by increasing the more than 25 per cent.”

Though the shops were to open at 10 am, queues were formed much earlier in the day with the government allowing liquor shops to open in all the three Covid-19 zones — red, orange and green. Only those shops that fell in containment zones were not allowed to open.

The shops, as per the Union home ministry’s orders, can remain open from 10 am to 6 pm.

The state government was forced to take the decision to open the liquor outlets as the bordering states have already reopened the liquor outlets and many people have crossed the border to buy liquor. This had led to difficulty in controlling the inter-state movement of people and increased the possibility of smuggling, said prohibition and excise minister V. Srinivas Goud.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Telangana Wine Dealers Association (TWDA) president D. Venkateshwara Rao said, “People are resorting to panic buying due to uncertain conditions. We are trying to estimate the demand. Accordingly, we will refill the stocks.”

The customers had to wait for almost three hours to buy the liquor at some places. Some people who came in groups took turns to stand in the queue. Some have placed their slippers in the queue and stood in shade waiting for their turn. Most of them were seen wearing masks while waiting in the queue, which suggests that the “No-Mask, NoLiquor” call was successful. At some places, customers were frustrated and attempted to bypass queues resulting in heated arguments.

When enquired whether it’s worth to stand hours in the queue under the scorching sun, one of the customers said, “It’s been more than 40 days without alcohol. If we want something, we should undergo some sort of pain, otherwise, we don't get it. I will be happier if I could get my hand on some liquor."

An excise official said everything was normal at the liquor stores in Hyderabad city.

After visiting bandobast arrangements at the liquor stores in Narayanguda, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said “There are about 178 shops in Hyderabad. No complaints were received so far. We have taken steps to maintain the physical distance at each liquor shop. Local SHOs are checking conditions at liquor shops.”