Maharastra’s Booze Delivery Scheme Derailed Before Launch Post Outrage

Update: The state’s Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawnkule has withdrawn his announcement due to the adverse reaction received from different people including the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

He later added that only a proposal was received and that the government had not taken any decisions regarding the issue.

Earlier report:

Government of Maharashtra will soon be introducing a policy that will allow door-step delivery of liquor in the state. With this move, Maharashtra will be the first state in India to do so, giving a boost to the revenue.

Minister for Excise Chandrashekar Bawankule was quoted by Times of India as saying, “The main objective is to reduce growing cases of drunken driving due to which there have been many accidents and resulted in great loss of lives. Just like citizens are getting groceries and vegetables at home.”

According to records of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), on a daily basis, eight deaths take place across the country due to drunken driving or driving under the influence of drugs. In order to verify the age of the consumers, their Aadhaar details will be collected by the respective merchants.

To curb smuggling and sale of illegal liquor, geo-tagging will be done on bottle caps which will help track the location from origin to destination (consumer’s location). Employment generation is another aim behind the move, as a number of unemployed youth can fill-in the shoes of delivery executives.