East Khasi Hills wine shops to open from today under COVID-19 guidelines

Anti-COVID conditions apply

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The Deputy Commissioner (Excise), East Khasi Hills District, Shillong, in an order issued on Sunday, informed that wine shops and bonded warehouses in East Khasi Hills District will open in selected locations and in strict compliance to the listed conditions, with effect from May 18 to 23, 2020 from 9 am to 4 pm daily. However, wine stores in locations close to the international borders, narrow roads and lanes compromising the interest of social distancing and areas with high transmission risk will not open.

The DC (Excise) has listed the following conditions to be strictly complied by the owners or proprietors of wine stores: Sale of liquor shall not exceed three litres of foreign liquor or wine and four litres of beer, per customer. The owners of the wine stores will utilize their own staff and they will personally be responsible to ensure that social distancing of atleast six feet is maintained between customers, no overcrowding takes place or assembly of five or more persons in the vicinity of the shop, respiratory etiquette is maintained and all strictly follow the directives and advisories issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department with reference to the COVID-19 situation.

They are to strictly avoid overcrowding and congestion in one spot; staff of a particular wine store will disperse and direct the accumulating customers to other nearby wine stores within the same locality or village. Overcrowding of customers may invite further legal action, the order stated.

The owners of the wine stores will provide hand sanitizers free of cost to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash; and the wine stores will limit their staff to the barest minimum and they are to wear masks at all time, without fail.

The order also stated that the wine stores management and personnel will extend full cooperation and comply with the arrangement of District Administration, Police, Excise and other authorities involved by the District Administration for regulation and monitoring purposes.

The DC (Excise) also laid down conditions to be strictly complied by the customers whereby only one person per household is allowed to visit the wine store for purchase, maintain social distancing of atleast six feet and other respiratory etiquette as well as to strictly follow all directives and advisories issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department with reference to COVID-19 situation. The customers are to avoid overcrowding and congestion in one location.

Violation of the above instructions above including physical distancing norms, non-wearing of masks, non-use of sanitizers, spitting in public places and other advisories of the Health and Family Welfare Department shall be strictly acted upon the owner of the wine stores and customers alike, under Section 269 and Section 188 of IPC, Section 133 of CrPC and other relevant provisions of law, the order warned.