Govt defers home delivery of liquor to May 15

MUMBAI: The wait for tipplers for liquor home delivery has gotten longer! The Maharashtra government has deferred the home delivery of liquor in ‘permitted areas’ outside the containment zones to May 15 from the earlier announced date, May 14. The government, on Wednesday, issued detailed guidelines with respect to the home delivery of liquor.

As reported by the Free Press Journal, home delivery will be only allowed in ‘permitted areas’ and not currently in Mumbai, which is a Red Zone with more than 1,500 containment areas and the highest CoVID-19 cases and deaths amongst other cities in the country. Similarly, liquor sales won't be allowed in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad, as the respective district collectors and municipal commissioners have declined the sale of liquor. According to the guidelines, only wine and beer shops are allowed to home deliver liquor. Liquor will be sold to permit holders. If a customer doesn’t have any permit, he can get one from the state excise department by making a due application. Customers can book their orders via WhatsApp, SMS and through phone. However, all retail shopkeepers will have to display their contact number outside their shops.

Retailers will have to make their own arrangements for delivery. As the order is for a limited period, request passes for the delivery boys can be obtained from the Excise Superintendent of Police and Deputy SP. They will issue the valid ID cards. Retailers are not supposed to engage more than 10 persons for home delivery.

- Sanjay Jog