Maharashtra To Start E-Tokens For Buying Liquor

The government in Maharashtra has announced that it will introduce an e-token system for the sale of liquor on a pilot basis from Sunday. This move came after people flooded liquor stores, breaking all rules of social distancing.

“We will run a pilot of the e-token in a city within the Pune Metropolitan Area to begin with. Plan is to then apply it across the state,” said a senior official from the state Excise department.

In addition, the Maharashtra government is also exploring the option of permitting home delivery of liquor. However, the government has promoted a liquor prohibition policy so far.

“We’re a prohibition state. The Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949, bans soliciting the use or consumption of alcohol. Even advertising or publishing leaflets related to alcohol is currently banned,” another senior official said.

“Rules will have to be amended to permit home deliveries and online sales. The option is being studied,” said an Excise department official. So far, Punjab, West Bengal, and Chattisgarh have permitted online delivery of liquor. Moreover, Chattishgarh and Delhi, which have liquor vends run by a state-owned corporation, have also introduced the token system.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has licensed 4,159 country liquor stores, 1,686 wine shops, and 4,947 beer shops. While not in the favor of tie-ups of wine shops with food delivery apps, State excise officials are more inclined towards allowing local shops to undertake home deliveries.

“The Wholesale Wine Merchants Association, an industry body, has developed an application software which will be used for issuance of e-tokens for liquor,” informed an official.