Now, marshals at Delhi liquor shops to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour

There are around 850 liquor shops in the city, including those run by government agencies and private individuals. At present, 40 per cent of around 850 liquor vends in the national capital are run by private players.

The Delhi government has directed all liquor vends in the city to deploy adequate marshals and staff to strictly ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour like maintaining social distancing and wearing masks at the shops.

People buy alcohol at a liquor shop, at Gole Market, in New Delhi, India, on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/ Hindustan Times)

It also directed the vendors to "coordinate with the local administration and police to maintain security and order".

"All the four Government Corporations viz. DSIIDC, DTTDC, DSCSC and DCCWS shall deploy adequate marshals at all their vends (L-6 & L-8) and private licensees (L-7, L-9 & L-10) shall deploy their staff to ensure that COVID Appropriate Behaviour viz. wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, regular use of sanitiser, no consumption of liquor, pan, gutkha, tobacco, etc. shall be ensured in all the liquor shops/vends/licensees," the Excise Department said in an order issued on June 6.

There are around 850 liquor shops in the city, including those run by government agencies and private individuals.

At present, 40 per cent of around 850 liquor vends in the national capital are run by private players.

There are currently four-state run agencies --- the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation, the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited and the Delhi Consumer's Cooperative Wholesale --- to sell liquor in the city.

Under the second phase of unlock, the government has allowed liquor shops to reopen.

The Delhi government had earlier announced that liquor stores in the city will open on an odd-even basis from 10 am to 8 pm.

The ongoing lockdown imposed since April 19 has been extended further to June 16.