Alcohol is allowed in all three zones…

Alcohol is allowed in all three zones, but Conditional licensing for the third phase, starting May 4

While the Home Ministry on Friday announced a two-week extension of the moratorium till May 17, it had lifted several restrictions in the green and orange sectors. The third phase of the lockdown, which will start on May 4, has allowed the opening of hairdressers and salons in green and orange areas. The Union Home Ministry on Saturday said that liquor sales were allowed in all the three areas.

In the three areas of green, orange and red, independent liquor shops will be allowed, not in markets and malls. This will require customers to keep a distance of 6 feet from each other and to ensure that no more than five customers are in the shop at a time. The sale of alcohol is prohibited in the containment zone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a lockdown on March 24 to curb the spread of the corona virus. Alcohol was banned in both phases of the lockdown. However, in the third phase starting from May 4, a conditional license has been issued for the sale of liquor. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, while interacting through Facebook Live on Monday, had hinted that liquor shops could be started if the rules of social distance were followed properly.

All transactions in the country have come to a standstill since the lockdown was announced. Alcohol was a major problem for alcoholics during this period as all states strictly enforced lockdowns. In Kerala, there were cases of alcoholics committing suicide. After that, the Kerala government had decided to give alcohol to addicted alcoholics if they have a doctor’s prescription. However, liquor sales were closed across the country. It is noteworthy that during this period, illegal liquor sellers were also raided.