As the lockdown seems to be recurring during the times of COVID-19 pandemic, the high sales of liquor just before the lockdown seems to be recurring too.
The Karnataka government had announced the lockdown in the capital city of Bengaluru because of the spike in the number of coronavirus cases. In the lead up to the lockdown, the city witnessed a mammoth sales of liquor close to Rs. 410 crore by the selling of over 4.9 lakh liters of Indian made foreign liquor and over 83,000 liters of beer. As per the reports, this amounts to more than 40 percent of usual sales in a day. A shop owner in Bengaluru said,
“Since liquor shops will be closed for a week, most customers purchased full bottles contributing to the sale.”
A senior state excise official confirmed that the sales of liquor of worth Rs. 230 crore rupees on Monday alone. The officer said,
“There was apparently a mad rush yesterday. Indian made foreign liquor worth Rs. 215.55 crore and 14.83 crores worth beer was sold.”
Exodus Of People
Not only in Bengaluru but also in other districts like Dharwad and Dakshina Kannada districts, there was an unusual rush of customers in the liquor stores. Both the districts have also announced a lockdown of 9 days and 7 days respectively.
On the other hand, ahead of the week-long lockdown, over 30,000 people have left the city to their home towns before the imposition of lockdown. As per a transport department officials, the laborers who traveled to Bengaluru in search of work are suddenly scared because of the upcoming lockdown. Even as the Karnataka State Transport Corporation is allowing only a limited number of passengers in buses, there were at least 35,000 people who left Bengaluru on Monday.
Source: The Times of India
