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Online sales to avert mass gathering at liquor outlets
Online sales of liquor will be permitted by the Excise Department during the COVID-19 lockdown as the Government cannot afford to lose tax revenue running into billions of rupees.
Excise Department Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri in a circular noted that an online system would be introduced to sell during the COVID-19 lockdown. The announcement came after long queues were seen outside liquor shops to buy liquor on Friday after a sudden decision to open the outlets.
Such large gatherings sometimes may become uncontrollable and it will create COVID-19 clusters, he said adding that the Government would also have to look into the tax revenue aspect as well.
The Treasury has to forego Rs. 15 billion a month by keeping liquor bars, wine stores and restaurants that serve liquor closed while suspending liquor sales, he disclosed.
While arrack prices in the black market have gone through the roof, he said they were not a position to conduct raids under the present circumstances.
Local liquor was available in the black-market at exorbitant prices – for example, the price of a 750ml bottle of Extra Special Arrack, has shot up from Rs. 1,600 to Rs.4000-Rs.5,000 in the black market in recent weeks.
With the legal alcohol sale shut out, the illicit liquor business was flourishing, the Excise Department chief said adding that “several people have even resorted to distilling spirits at home”.
This is a dangerous trend as the illegal brew could even poison for people due to lack of standardisation, he warned.