Assam liquor shops to now remain open from 10 am to 8 pm

Guwahati: Liquor shops across Assam can now be opened from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, said SK Medhi, the Additional Commissioner of Excise in Assam (in charge), issuing a new directive.

"I have the honour to inform you that as per guidelines and restrictions of MHA order no. 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) Dt. 30.05.2020 all the IMFL *off*/country spirit *off* shops may be allowed to open from 10 am to 8 pm", Medhi wrote in a letter which he dashed off to all the Deputy Commissioners of the state earlier today.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Assam cabinet in May decided to hike the prices of Indian-made foreign liquor by 25 percent. Explaining this move, Assam Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary told reporters that liquor price was increased with an aim to earn Rs 1,000 crore additionally in a year. When the Assam Government opened the liquor shops after a brief half amid the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, a massive surge in sales was witnessed across the state. After the reopening of liquor shops, the state government had earned Rs 50 crore to Rs 70 crore from an estimated sale of liquor worth Rs 150 crore in eight days.

Meanwhile, with the end of the fourth phase of the coronavirus-triggered lockdown, the Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna has issued a fresh set of directives that will be applicable from June 1 onwards till further notice. Check the list HERE

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