Kerala And Punjab Apparently Find Alcohol Essential Amid Lockdown

In an effort to fight the CO.VID-19 outbreak, India has just announced a 21-day lockdown. Shops have been closed except for those that sell essential items. However, despite the lockdown, liquor shops in Punjab and Kerala have been discovered to still operate.

As the number of confirmed cases keeps rising every day, the Kerala government has ordered all liquor stores and bars across the state to be closed.

However, Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala’s Chief Minister clarified that liquor outlets of state-owned Kerala State Beverages Corporation Limited will remain open. However, customers aren’t allowed to sit and drink.

Kerala CM, in an attempt to justify the decision of the state government to include liquor in the list of essential commodities, cited a tweet from Capt. Amarinder Singh, Punjab's Chief Minister.

He said:

A Punjab government’s spokesperson confirmed that despite the lockdown, liquor shops would remain open.

The decision to allow liquors to open amid the pandemic has been heavily criticized by the Congress as well as other citizens of the state. This is against the advisories warning people not to gather together to prevent the virus from spreading.

In Kerala, all private offices, shopping malls, schools had been closed. Public gatherings have been canceled. People are advised to postpone their wedding dates or lower the number of guests.

Meanwhile, as stated in the Punjab CM’s directive, the supply of beverages, along with groceries, is declared as essential items.

It is confirmed that liquor shops in Punjab will continue to operate while liquor shops in other states will be closed.

Update: After PM Modi announced a 21-day lockdown, all state-owned beverage corporations' outlets selling alcohol will be shut down.

>>> India Has Enough Food To Feed Its Poor If There Is A Long Lockdown