Following Maharashtra government’s approval for home delivery of liquor, the excise department has issued certain guidelines that need to be followed by all shop owners and riders.
The Centre had allowed states to sell liquor from May 4. However, the decision led to people queuing in large numbers at standalone shops, thereby violating the social distancing norms. Therefore, the state government came out with the home delivery option.
Home delivery will begin from May 15 in all districts of Maharashtra except for ten, which include Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, and other six districts in Marathwada.
The state excise department said, “The home delivery of liquor will commence from Friday across the state, where the shops are already opened in the non-containment zones.
“One shop owner cannot appoint more than ten delivery persons and one delivery person cannot carry more than 24 bottles of permitted liquor at one time.”
The Indian government has also ordered that liquor stores won’t be allowed to charge any additional cost for such deliveries and should only charge the price mentioned on the bottle (maximum retail price).
The statement also said, “The online sale of liquor is an unwritten contract between the buyer and the seller, hence the state will not be responsible for any possible dispute between them.
Liquor shops will have to follow strict laid-down norms of social distancing and sanitisation of its staff too.”
For ordering, customers will need a drinking permit, else they can apply for the one online, or purchase a one-day permit from the wine shop. Buyers can get the permit here.
Apart from Maharashtra, other states like Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu have already permitted online delivery of liquor.
