#beernews

Brewers desperate to home deliver

Leading beer companies United Breweries, Bira, Molson & Coors and Carlsberg, led by industry body All India Brewers’ Association (AIBA), have written fresh letters to chief minsters of eight states this weekend seeking partial resumption of brewing facilities and proposed sale of beer through e-commerce and home delivery platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Grofers and Flipkart.

The letter by AIBA written to state chief ministers has been strategically timed just before they are about to meet the PM of the nation on Monday about the next steps on the lockdown.

In the letter, AIBA suggested state governments issue a separate license to eCommerce platforms for beer delivery. AIBA, a representative body of around 83 beer manufacturers, urged the government to issue these licenses to platforms like Flipkart, Amazon, Grofers, Zomato and Swiggy.

March-June being the peak season for beer sales, Indian brewers are worried that Covid-19 might wipe out their complete sale for the year. Which in turn would also affect the state revenue that is generated due to the sale of alcoholic beverages, much needed in times of the pandemic with disaster relief and healthcare expenditure increasing.

Liquor shops will still remain closed, even after MHA orders shops selling non-essential goods to open

In an order issued late on Friday night, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has allowed shops selling non-essential goods to open from Saturday onwards. This order is applicable to shops in market complexes under the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities.

Amending its April 15 order, the Union Home Ministry said “all shops, including neighbourhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT, except shops in market complexes and multi-brand and single brand malls, with 50% strength of workers with wearing of masks and social distancing being mandatory” will be allowed to open during the lockdown. Obviously it is not applicable to shops in containment zones.

As for the liquor shops, the MHA has clarified that alcohol comes under a separate clause and not under the shops and establishment act. We see no intention of the government to open liquor shops until the complete lockdown is being lifted. The government is ready to open up salons and parlors but not the liquor shops.

Good news for people, bad news for tipplers. Still a long way to go before we can get booze again.