Odisha: From today, get alcohol delivered right at doorstep

BHUBANESWAR: Finally, some good news for tipplers. After more than two months, alcohol will be available in the state from Sunday. But to stop crowding in front of booze shops and to ensure Covid-19 restrictions are followed, the state government has decided to allow only home delivery of alcohol, both Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and beer.
“One can place an order over phone or through SMS, WhatsApp, email or online platforms. The delivery will be made within six hours. However, there will be no sale from counters,” the state government said on Saturday.
The buyers, however, will have to shell out more compared to pre-lockdown days, as the government has introduced a special Covid fee and increased the maximum retail prices (MRP)s by 50% from 2019-20 rates. Besides, consumers will have to pay delivery charge of Rs 100 to Rs 300.
“The additional revenue generated from the Covid fee will be spent in treatment of Covid-19 patients and other related activities,” a statement issued by the excise department said.
The state generates around Rs 4,400 crore in annual revenue from the excise duty on liquor. “But any pre-estimate for this fiscal is difficult as we have lost two months’ sale, which we may not be able to recover,” a government official said.
The government said retailers can directly deliver alcohol to buyers and also through food aggregators and delivery service providers. The delivery agents engaged by the retailers will need no objection certificates from the excise commissioner, Odisha.
“The liquor outlets will have to prominently display their phone/mobile/WhatsApp numbers as well as email id and UPI details for receiving orders and facilitating digital payments,” the excise department said. Outlets in shopping malls and containment zones will not be allowed to home-deliver.
A senior excise department officer said the list of agencies granted no objection certificate by the excise commissioner will be published on the website of Odisha State Beverage Corporation (OSBC) (https://osbc.co.in/). The list of licensed liquor outlets will also be published on the website.
Govt: Liquor delivery charge not to exceed 300
The excise commissioner has been authorised to decide on the delivery charges from time to time.
The ceiling notified at present is Rs 100 for orders up to Rs 1000 and Rs 25 for every additional order of Rs 500 value. However, the delivery charge will not exceed Rs 300. The aggregators can fix their own rates subject to the above ceiling.
The government said home delivery would be allowed between 7 am and 6 pm. Orders once placed are expected to be delivered within 6 hours. The retailers and other agencies involved in home delivery have to abide by the legal provisions which includes a maximum of two-and-a-half litres of IMFL and 5 litres of beer, besides develop an appropriate mechanism to enforce legal age of drinking and other restrictions imposed by the law in the state.
A government officer said the decision not to allow sale through counters at this point of time was taken apprehending overcrowding at liquor shops, like it was witnessed in some states.
Booze lovers welcomed the government decision. “It’s a good move. Counter sale or home delivery, ultimately the availability matters,” said Rajesh Raj, a software engineer. The liquor traders association also welcomed the government move while Congress state president Niranjan Patnaik termed it regressive.
“It was a huge opportunity to ensure people quit such habits. The government should not have allowed liquor sale till the lockdown is completely lifted,” Niranjan said.
Samajwadi Party’s Odisha unit also sought revocation of the government order, saying the same will promote domestic violence.