BMC allows home delivery of liquor

The wait for tipplers is finally over. The BMC has allowed the home delivery of sealed liquor bottles in non-containment zones in Greater Mumbai.

BMC Commissioner Iqbal Chahal in his order, issued on Friday, said, ‘’Under no circumstances over-thecounter sales of liquor can be permitted in such shops. The E-commerce platforms may be utilized by the liquor shops for home delivery.’’

The order will come into effect on May 23.

There are a total of 581 retail liquor shops comprising 144 in the city and 437 in the suburbs which can start home delivery. ‘’Excluding the containment zone, shops selling liquor in sealed bottles can be permitted to operate by effecting delivery at the home address of the customer,’’ Chahal explained.

However, Chahal laid down a few conditions. "The guidelines issued by the State Government and the State Excise Department shall be followed scrupulously," Chahal said.

Home delivery of liquor in non red zones in rest of Maharashtra had begun last week while over the counter sale is permissible since May 4, excluding that in red zone and containment areas. The state government has collected excise duty of over Rs 300 crore between May 4 and 20

The BMC’s move is important as the former commissioner Praveen Pardeshi on May 5 in his order decided to close all non-essential shops, including standalone stores selling liquor.

Only essential item stores like grocery and medical/ chemist shops were allowed to be open in the city.

Pardeshi had said that he was convinced the situation in the city was "going to deteriorate" due to the relaxation measures provided by the government, and he was therefore withdrawing the relaxations in the city. He had further noted that following the relaxations there were huge crowds near these shops and it had been impossible to maintain social distancing.