Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, May 20: Gusts of strong winds and pouring rains failed to suppress the zeal of tipplers who, armed with raincoats and umbrellas and some without either made a frenzied beeline for that one prized bottle of �thirst quencher� they had been deprived of since March 22.
The queues in front of liquor stores had people who had thrown all caution of social distancing norms to the raging storm to get their parched desire. Some women too were noticed in the disoriented queues.
It seemed that authorized liquor shops had got wind of the state government�s decision of resuming business and had erected grills in front of their outlets and marked out equally-distanced spaces for customers for social distancing. The grilled exteriors certainly reflected distancing of outlet staff members from the unshackled customers but outside it was another story.
People did not mind dishing out that 25 percent extra cost as quite a few among them had paid double the price to get a bottle of liquor during the lockdown phase when wine shops had been ordered to close shop. They felt that paying 25 percent extra above the normal retail price was a concession as measured against footing double charges for the backdoor deals.
The same weather conditions and the same frenzy was also reported from nearby Ghatshila where liquor shops were abuzz with impatient customers to lay their hands on the bottles containing their nectar of life.
The state government and district administration had made it abundantly clear that strict adherence to social distancing was to be maintained which would be the responsibility of shop owners and failure to abide by the stricture would attract strict action that could include closure of such wine outlets.
Sale of liquor will be made between 7 am and 7 pm daily. Provisions for online purchases of liquor have also been made. One token for one mobile number will be issued. For receiving tokens one has to select a liquor outlet from within the district and select a time slot of one hour between 7 am and 7 pm.
The application for preferred slot should be made prior to the starting time of the slot and token will be issued against the time preference on availability. If mobile is used for application, the token will be issued on the mobile number and the information will also be provided through SMS.
In case of using desktop computers, the print out of the token issued will be required. The link of the token will be sent vide SMS on the mobile number provided by the applicant.
While applying for issue of token it would be necessary to take along an ID proof in the form of voter card, driving license, Adhaar Card, PAN Card the number of which has been registered with the token for delivery of liquor requisitioned for.
