Dry day for tipplers in Mumbai as Maharashtra starts home delivery of liquor from Friday

Tipplers in most part of Maharashtra won't have to queue for liquor as the state will start home delivery from May 15, an order issued by the state excise department on Wednesday said.

The decision has been taken to avoid crowding at shops amid the lockdown to stop the spread of novel coronavirus.

Huge crowds were seen at liquor shops across the country after the sale was allowed during relaxed lockdown guidelines on May 4.

The Uddhav Thackeray government gave permission for home delivery of liquor on Tuesday and the home delivery was to start from May 14. However, shop owners had demanded more time for preparation so the service will start from Friday, the government resolution (GR) issued by the state excise department said.

The shopowners were given one day extra to provide I-card and conduct medical tests of delivery boys.

"The home delivery of liquor will commence from Friday across the state, where the shops are already opened in the non-containment zones. One shop owner cannot appoint more than 10 delivery persons and one delivery person cannot carry more than 24 bottles of permitted liquor in one time," the order said.

The order said the shop owners would not charge over and above the MRP printed on the bottle for home delivery.

The online sale of liquor and home delivery is an unwritten contract between the buyer and the seller, hence the state will not be a party to any possible dispute between them, the GR said.

"Despite the online sale, the liquor shops will have to adhere to the laid-down norms of physical distancing and sanitisation of its staff," the order said.The government allowed home delivery of liquor in the wake of crowding outside liquor outlets when they opened early last week following relaxations in lockdown norms.

Mumbai, the worst-affected city in the country, will not benefit from the decision as the service will be available in areas where the sale is already permitted. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had last week decided to withdraw the relaxations given from lockdown in the city, including the permission to reopen liquor shops.

Simlarly in urban areas of Thane and Nagpur, no online delivery of liquor will be available.