Social Distancing goes for a Toss after Liquor shops open

Policemen try to control people jostling to buy alcohol in Delhi on Monday

NEW DELHI: Most liquor shops in Delhi saw huge crowds and chaos after liquor shops were opened for the first time after the lockdown.

Queues – some stretching up to 3 km – jostled and pulled at each other to get hold of their favorite brands, in total defiance of social distancing norms.

The mad rush triggered traffic chaos, police action, political slugfest and fears of a spike in Covid-19 transmissions as 150 of the Delhi’s 859 booze shops opened in some areas after a long gap of 40 days.

A senior police officer said shops that failed to maintain social distancing have been ordered to shut down. Shops in East Delhi were closed after chaos. In North, East and South Delhi, police used mild force to disperse crowd for failing to maintain social distancing.

The excise department said 150 shops out of around 800 liquor shops were permitted to be opened on Monday.

A report prepared by the Delhi Police after reports emerged about social distancing not being maintained, suggested that the management of the wine shops ensure that proper markings on the ground are made for the public to stand while waiting for their turn.

The report also suggested that the timing for the sale of wine may be extended to avoid the crowding and sufficient stock of liquor should be available in shops as people will purchase more than their requirement.

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