When the government extended lockdown by 2 weeks, certain protocols were eased. For example, standalone liquor shops were allowed to reopen provided social distancing measures were followed, reports Business Today. Needless to say, stores saw huge crowds with some owners welcoming customers with flower petals.
According to India Today, residents of Nainital, Uttarakhand stood in queues as a shop on Mall Road reopened after 40 days despite there being a hailstorm.
Uttarakhand: Shoppers brave hailstorm to buy liquor at a shop on Mall Road in Nainital today. #CoronavirusLockdown pic.twitter.com/lvU2K1HT2c
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2020
Agnipath.. Agnipath.. Agnipath. Outside a liquor shop. Today. Via Whatsapp. pic.twitter.com/sul4F5uIBt
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) May 5, 2020
Seeing the people patiently standing with umbrellas had Twitter lauding their dedication and poking fun at the fact that “free ice” was being showered on them by nature.
Wah dedication ko salaam.
— Tweetera🐦 (@DoctorrSays) May 5, 2020
Free ice! 😂😂
— 🚩 Bharatnama🚩 (@Bharatnama6) May 5, 2020
Such dedication 🙏🙏🙏🙏😂😂😂😂
— Prati S (@SPrati7) May 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/kewal997766/status/1257643780582158338
Wow 🤩.. even heavy rains won’t deter them from breaking the queue or the physical distancing .🙏
— Namma Bengaluroo (@NammaBengaluroo) May 5, 2020
After watching their determination God showered fresh ice for them….🍻❄️😄
— Satyam Srivastava (@SatyamDTrue) May 5, 2020
After these developments, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has revoked the relaxation and ordered the liquor shops in the city to shut down, reports The Economic Times. On the other hand, the Delhi government has levied a 70% Special Corona Fee on liquor sales.