Early morning queue, wine shops open for public in Assam

April 13: Long queues in almost every place of Assam was the common scene on Monday morning. These were ofcourse not for getting any relief or procuring food stuff but for purchasing liquor. The order was issued by Assam Excise department on Sunday which stated that the state government has approved the opening of “IMFL “OFF/CS “OFF” shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries, and Breweries w.e.f 13/04/2020 on the permitted days” subject to compliance of strict guidelines, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The liquor shops would remain open from Monday (April 13) from10 am to 5 pm every day.

Though as per the notification, the liquor shops were supposed to open at 10 AM, but long queue could be noticed outside the many such shops from 8 AM onwards. In maximum of the places, people formed queue in the streets maintaining ‘social distancing’. However, in certain places, norms of ‘social distancing’ were also violated.

The order stated, “The licensee of IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries shall be personally responsible for deploying their staff to ensure maintaining social distancing of at least 1(one) meter between customers, staff, cough etiquette and to strictly follow all directives issued by National Health Mission, Assam with reference to COVID-19 situation.”

“The IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shops may work with bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitizers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash. To strictly avoid overcrowding, staff of a particular IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shop may direct the customers to other nearby shops,” the Assam Excise department order said.