Assam Cabinet approves online liquor sale in Guwahati for a month
The Assam Cabinet on Wednesday evening decided to approve online sale/purchase and home delivery of liquor within the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) area for a month on an experimental basis.
The decision has been taken in order to prevent crowding outside liquor shops in view of the prevailing COVID-19 situation, particularly during the hours before imposition of curfew in the city.
Addressing newsmen here after the Cabinet meeting, state minister Keshab Mahanta said that in the wake of the crowding witnessed outside liquor shops (in the non-curfew hours) and “on the basis of the Supreme Court and Madras High Court directives”, the Cabinet decided to approve in principle, online sale/purchase and home delivery of liquor within the GMC area for a month on experimental basis.”
The Supreme Court had last year left it open for states to consider online sales and home delivery of liquor during the COVID-19 lockdown period to facilitate social distancing.
“Online sale of liquor will be effective once the notification is issued by the government. The guidelines will be prepared by the state excise department,” the minister said.
The Meghalaya Cabinet had earlier approved a proposal regarding online sale of liquor and decided to introduce a new rule under the Meghalaya Excise Rules on license for home delivery of liquor.
(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)
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