Liquor not a vaccine for COVID-19: Sena

Mumbai, May 7 () The Shiv Sena on Thursday took adim view of large crowds outside liquor shops in Mumbaiearlier this week, and said people should understand thatliquor is "not a vaccine" for COVID-19.

It is "not worth buying 65,000 COVID-19 infectioncases" for earning a revenue of Rs 65 crore through liquorsale, a editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said,noting that people defied physical distancing norms whilegathering at wine shops.

After the Maharashtra government on Sunday announcedto open standalone shops, including of liquor, in COVID-19non-containment zones, long queues were seen outside shops onMonday and Tuesday.

Mumbai civic commissioner issued an order on Tuesdaynight directing closure of all non-essential services,including liquor shops, in the city.

"Their (people's) joy of liquor shops being opened wasshort-lived. The administration had to order closure of wineshops. In Mumbai alone, the revenue earned through liquor salein two days was Rs 65 crore. But on Tuesday, the city sawsingle day spike of 635 new COVID-19 cases and nearly 30deaths," the Sena said.

The "side-effect" of opening liquor shops was seen in24 hours, it said.

"For a revenue of Rs 65 crore, we cannot afford to buy(have) 65,000 coronavirus infection cases...people have tounderstand that liquor is not a vaccinefor COVID-19," theMarathi publication said.

The administration and police had to bear theadditional strain due to opening of liquor shops wherephysical distancing rules were not followed, it noted.

The Sena justified the government's decision to closethe liquor shops and allow only groceries and medical shops toremain open. MRGK GK