With the new Excise Policy set to come into effect on April 1st, the sale of liquor at discounted rates across the city’s outlets has attracted a massive crowd. Consequently, heavy footfall was witnessed at these shops throughout the day and late into the night. As the tenure of the existing liquor licenses was drawing to a close, contractors sold off their remaining stock at reduced prices to clear inventory—an opportunity that the public seized with great enthusiasm.
In various parts of the city, the atmosphere outside the liquor outlets resembled that of a bustling fair. Long queues began forming outside the shops as early as the morning, and by evening, the crowds had swelled even further. In several locations, people were seen purchasing liquor by the case—buying entire cartons—without any apparent restrictions. Individuals were even spotted transporting cases of liquor on their two-wheelers.
According to reports, liquor was available at exceptionally low prices due to the expiration of licenses held by various contractor groups. Although excise regulations stipulate that liquor may be sold to an individual only in limited quantities, these rules did not appear to be enforced in many locations. This clearly indicated that the demand for liquor had surged suddenly, driven by the availability of cheap alcohol.
The Excise Department had already imposed a ban on the use of drums or other promotional media; as a result, no formal advertising or publicity was conducted at the liquor outlets. Nevertheless, the massive crowds served as a clear indication that news of the discounted liquor had spread among the public through word of mouth alone. While no official statement regarding this matter has been issued by the department, the prevailing situation highlighted the urgent need to maintain order and ensure strict compliance with excise regulations.
