Lockdown 3.0: Liquor shops open in Goa, people follow norms

Panaji, May 4 () Liquor shops opened on Monday inGoa after more than a month on the first day of the thirdphase of the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

An official said people observed social distancingrules while standing in queues outside these shops.

Meanwhile, in a bid to ensure that social distancingnorms are being adhered to, liquor traders in Goa havedeclared that they will not sell booze to customers who arenot wearing masks.

"Wine shops across Goa opened on Monday but there wasno rush as such by people. We have adopted 'no mask, noliquor' policy to ensure that social distancing norms arefollowed strictly," said Goa Liquor Traders' Associationpresident Dattaprasad Naik.

Goa has about 1,300 wine shops that have been closedsince the national lockdown came into force on March 25.

As per the Centre's directive, liquor shops areallowed to remain open in all three zones--red (excludingcontainment zones), orange and green--on condition ofmaintaining social distancing.

However, state governments can modify rules dependingupon the ground situation.

In Goa, a green zone, liquor shops are allowed toremain open between 7 am and 6 pm.

Earlier in the day, Goa Commissioner of Excise AmitSatija personally visited some wine shops to ensure that normsare complied with.

Meanwhile, Naik said customers are not allowed todrink standing outside premises of liquor shops. "Drinking inpublic places is already banned in Goa," he added. RPSNSK NSK