Mangaluru: Liquor sale started across the state at 9 am nearly after a month’s gap. In Mangaluru, the wine shops barring those in the containment areas in Mangaluru, with the support of the Excise department made social distancing arrangements for the anticipated crowds the previous day itself.
Some drew circles and some put queue pathways with barricades to prevent crowding and to adhere to the government guidelines of a max of 5 inside and 5 outside. But people seemed very eager for their tipple, as long queues were witnessed from 7 am itself.
In most of the places, long queues were found since the early morning. The liquor shops are permitted to be kept open only for takeaways from 9 am to 7 PM. But it appears that most of the smaller wine shops have limited stocks
The Liquor sales lockdown has been in place for over a month now and the scenes outside the wine shops in the city were telling. The lifting was prompted by the lack of revenue accruing to the state, and many states pleas to the center and came about despite opposition from experts and the women’s groups.
Here is a glimpse
