Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>Kerala is discouraging public gatherings but is yet to shut down its liquor shops.</li><li>People waiting in queues outside these state-run establishments are being directed to stand at least a meter apart by the local authorities.</li><li>One man who tried to petition the Kerala High Court for home delivery of alcohol was fined ₹50,000.</li></ul>Coronavirus may be on the prowl but Kerala isn’t shutting down its liquor shops — and demand doesn’t seem to be shrinking either. The one thing that has changed is social distancing. People standing in queues outside state-run establishments are maintaining a distance of a few feet between them to reduce the chance of an infection. A few videos also surfaced of guards asking people to maintain at least a meter of space between them. <div type="javascript" title="Facebook" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[

]]></cdata></div>

 However, some reports suggest that the videos of social distancing at liquor stores is only optics. Reporters with <a href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/covid-19-videos-social-distancing-kerala-liquor-shops-just-optics-120723">TNM</a> saw a very different picture on the ground. One brave soul petitioned the Kerala High Court to make way for the home delivery of alcohol. Instead, he was slapped with a ₹50,000 fine as per <a href="https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/online-liquor-delivery-to-home-154132">LiveLaw</a>’s report. The case for home delivery of alcohol The petitioner argued that since alcohol shops were crowded during peak hours, it’s not safe for him to go out and actually buy what he needed. Instead, he suggested alternative ways in which delivery would be feasible during the Coronavirus outbreak. 
 <div type="image" title="kerala3_edited" msid="74732924" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Liquor bottles being arranged at the renovated BEVCO outlet on the power house&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 However, Judge Nambiar was not amused. “It is with a deep sense of exasperation and a tinge of disgust that I write this judgment,” he said. “The petitioner's conduct in filing this frivolous petition at a time like this, while making a mockery of the salutary concept of access to justice — which this institution strives to guarantee — also ridiculous the functioning of this noble institution,” he added before instructing the petitioner to address the costs and send them to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund. Liquor makes the government money Even though the state government has called for people to avoid leaving the house and restrict public gatherings — there is no plant to shut down liquor shops. Revenue from liquor sales in a major source of income for Kerala. 
 <div type="image" title="kerala4_edited" msid="74732939" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Staff unloading liquor bottles at a bar in Kozhikode&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 During 2018-19, sales reached an all-time high of ₹14,508 crore, which means the government gets a cut of around ₹2,521 crore as excise duty. Sources at the Kerala State Beverages Corporation told the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/covid-19-keralas-liquor-shops-open-for-revenue-813994.html">Deccan Herald</a> that despite the emergency around Coronavirus, there hasn’t been much of a fall in liquor sales. Others within the government feel that the shutting down of liquor shops may trigger alcoholics to drink copious amounts of alcohol in the name of stocking up before stores shut down. This could lead to a more dangerous situation, sources told <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/coronavirus-scare-social-distancing-for-keralas-tipplers/articleshow/74731096.cms">ET</a>. To ensure that necessarily precautions are taken, local authorities have posted additional guards at every Indian-made foreign liquor outlet to enforce social distancing. The police have distributed masks, gloves and hand sanitizers for the staff at these shops. <div type="javascript" title="Facebook" contenttype="Video"><cdata><![CDATA[

]]></cdata></div>

 See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/while-pm-modi-called-for-a-janata-curfew-the-kerala-government-implemented-some-serious-steps/articleshow/74717250.cms">While PM Modi called for a 'janata curfew', the Kerala government implemented some serious steps</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/coronavirus-updates-in-india-and-steps-taken-by-narendra-modi-government/articleshow/74723667.cms">A look at Indian government response to coronavirus, so far, shows some quick reactions but not enough foresight</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/stages-of-coronavirus-and-how-they-determine-the-status-of-a-country/articleshow/74728639.cms">Stages of Coronavirus and how they determine the status of a country</a>

Coronavirus isn’t shutting down liquor shops in Kerala, and cheeky home delivery suggestions earn a ₹50,000 fine

<ul><li>Four <keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword> districts bordering Kerala -- Kodagu, Mangluru, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru -- have been put on high alert in the wake of positive <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> cases in Kerala.</li><li>Acting on state government orders, <keyword id="1051" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mohan">Mohan</keyword> said the district health department is undertaking information and education activities in the district about the virus. </li><li>Mohan said Kodagu did not receive any migrant from China or a person who stayed in China thus far.</li></ul>Four Karnataka districts bordering Kerala -- Kodagu, Mangluru, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru -- have been put on high alert in the wake of positive coronavirus cases in Kerala. "Kodagu, Mangluru, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts have been put on high alert for coronavirus monitoring," Kodagu district health officer K. Mohan told IANS. Acting on state government orders, Mohan said the district health department is undertaking information and education activities in the district about the virus. "We are explaining how coronavirus spreads and how to take precautionary measures. We have established a six bedded room for coronavirus in the district hospital and two beds each at Virajpet and Somvarpet," said Mohan. The Kodagu district authorities also displayed coronavirus awareness posters and messages at bus stops, government hospitals and offices, including the bustling Raja Street. Kodagu is located 250 km southwest of <keyword id="6354321" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword>. Aiming at restricting the movement of people between Karnataka and Kerala, Mohan said the district health department has requested the planters' associations to not move manpower. "We have requested our planters' associations not to move manpower from Karnataka to Kerala and Kerala to Karnataka till February 15," said Mohan. Additionally, the district health department has also kept a rapid response team on standby. Mohan said Kodagu did not receive any migrant from China or a person who stayed in China thus far. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has ordered that anybody arriving from the 23 coronavirus affected countries must stay in isolation at home for 28 days in a state surveillance bulletin of the Karnataka health and family welfare department on Monday. The home isolation requirement is irrespective of the virus symptoms. As many as 426 coronavirus deaths have been reported in China so far. See also: <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/fighting-wuhan-coronavirus-pictures-show-how-china-built-a-1000-bed-hospital-in-10-days/articleshow/73769620.cms" target="_blank">Fighting Wuhan Coronavirus: Pictures show how China built a 1000-bed hospital in 10 days</a>

You Searched For "coronavirus cases in kerala" and got 2 results

Coronavirus isn’t shutting down liquor shops in Kerala, and cheeky home delivery suggestions earn a ₹50,000 fine

Prabhjote Gill

Now, Kerala's border districts in Karnataka are on Coronavirus alert too

IANS

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides