Rajasthan: Liquor shop timing back to 8pm

JAIPUR: The excise department has reversed the truncated timings for liquor outlets and gone back to the routine business hours by allowing them to remain open till 8pm.
When shops were opened after 40 days of lockdown on May 4, keeping in view social distancing precautions, the state government had reduced the normal business hours to 6pm. But now shops will remain open till 8pm.
This is expected to boost the sales, and help government maximize revenues which it needs desperately due to significant fall in other tax revenues.
But liquor industry said sales growth will remain subdued due to increase in prices. “We don’t expect any increase in sales because liquor in the state has become unaffordable due to regular hike in taxes and prices. Lot of liquor is coming from Haryana where it is cheaper by a significant margin,” said a shop owner.
Recently, there has been an uptick in the consumption of country liquor due to the arrival of migrant labourers from various states, said the shop owner.
“The timing should have boosted country liquor sales more, but since most of the labourers are without jobs, increasing the timing will not have any impact,” she said.
Night curfew is another reason for the low offtake of liquor. “There are no house parties happening now. Evening gatherings are yet to be a part of life. That’s why to expect a sales boost does not have enough reason,” said another shop owner.
But the government officials are expecting that there will be increase in consumption due to the opening of hotels and restaurants.