“Bro, get a bottle for me from duty-free na,” how many times has a friend said this to you when you travel abroad? Apart from carrying desi food, buying tax-free alcohol is like a tradition for many Indian travelers. Although alcoholic beverages come with a health warning, people enjoy a fine (and discounted) drink every once in a while.
Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you. Recently, the Commerce Ministry has recommended restricting purchase of tax-free alcohol along with other items as a measure to reduce import of non-essential goods, reports Hindustan Times. Inbound international passengers will be allowed to purchase only one bottle from duty-free shops.
Have a look at the Tweet:
Commerce ministry recommends restricting purchase of tax-free alcohol to one bottle at duty-free shops as part of steps to reduce import of non-essential goods: Sources.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2020
The ministry has also recommended a ban on the purchase of cigarette cartons at duty-free shops. They have also suggested an increase in customs duty on several products like footwear, rubber items, paper, and toys. While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil all these recommendations on February 1, people are definitely not happy with the decision.
Have a look at some hilarious tweets that people have shared to express their pain and disapproval:
Khopdi kharab mat kar re….Black Dogs ! pic.twitter.com/vNFhnRHYVC
— (((ChordOverDiscord)))🎸🎈 (@Gr8GigOnTheSly) January 19, 2020
— Sukhada (@appadappajappa) January 19, 2020
People of Gujarat and Bihar along with other dry states… pic.twitter.com/skURBVIA04
— Parthiv Patel (@parthivpatel) January 19, 2020
How about allowing import of few bottles of petrol from gulf for those not carrying alcohol- increase import of essential goods!
— Shrinidhi Hande (@enidhi) January 19, 2020
Hey alcohol is a essential commodity 😡
— Free-Spirit (@murthybs) January 19, 2020
I would recommend the alcohol manufacturers increase the size of their bottle to 5 liters per bottle.#ProblemSolved pic.twitter.com/8eSHHzxch0
— StayHomeStaySafe nCov19 Covid19 Corona Virus (@iambhutia) January 20, 2020
Instead of alcohol they should ban imported cosmetics. Anyways, beauty lies in the eyes of beer holder.
— legally speaking (@IHemangp) January 19, 2020
— Abhishek Bhalerao (@Mumbaiactor1) January 19, 2020
— मिर्ची सेठ (@thedevil_ind) January 19, 2020
The pleasure of carrying 2 bottles of duty free alcohol on return frm a foreign trip is more than the pleasure of having gone on a foreign trip itself. And now the govt. wud like to spoil that small pleasure too.@nsitharaman @nsitharamanoffc @FinMinlndia @CimGOI @PiyushGoyal
— S. Anoop Kumar (@s_anoopkumar) January 19, 2020
Non-essential!!!! pic.twitter.com/rK8KI66Loh
— Anantkumar (@M_Anantkumar) January 19, 2020
Presently, international travelers are allowed to buy two liters of alcohol and a carton of cigarettes from duty-free shops. So, are you happy with the recommendations or not? Let us know in the comments below.