Bengal allows home delivery of liquor, BEVCO launches website for ordering

Kolkata, May 6 () The West Bengal government onWednesday allowed home delivery of liquor and the StateBeverages Corporation (BEVCO) launched a website throughwhich people over 21 years of age can place orders.

The move was aimed at avoiding large gatherings atstandalone 'OFF' shops which reopened on Monday, industrysources said.

Customers can place orders through the websitehttps://excise.wb.gov.in/eRetail/Page/eRetail_Login.aspx afterregistering themselves by providing necessary details such asaddress and mobile number, among others.

After registration they can order liquor from thedesignated stores that are on the website.

Liquor worth over Rs 100 crore was sold in the firsttwo days of reopening of the shops, said Sushmita Mukherjee,the assistant secretary of West Bengal ON, OFF, CS, and HotelOwners Association.

She said that while 70 per cent 'OFF' shops remainedopen in the first two days, it came down to 50 per cent onWednesday.

Many shops could not remain open for the entirestipulated time -- 12 pm to 7 pm -- as they ran out of stock,she said.

The state government has allowed liquor shops toreopen in green, red and orange zones, except for thoselocated in the containment areas.

Unlike the first day, crowds outside liquor shops were"under control" on the two subsequent days, Mukherjee said.

The state registered liquor sales of around Rs 30crore on Wednesday, she added.

Before West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Punjabgovernments allowed home delivery of alcoholic drinks. DCSOMSK SK