Shillong: The Deputy Commissioner (Excise), East Khasi Hills District, Shillong in an order issued on 9th May, 2020 has informed that selected wine stores and bonded warehouses in East Khasi Hills District will open from 11th to 16th May, 2020 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, however wine stores close to the international border, narrow roads and lanes compromising the interest of social distancing and in areas with high transmission risk will not open.
In the order, the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) said that the 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, they will personally be responsible to ensure social distancing of at least 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 and to strictly follow all directions and advisories issued by the health and family welfare department with reference to COVID-19 situation.
The owners of wine stores are also 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 and overcrowding of customers may invite legal action.
The owners of the wine stores should provide hand sanitizers free of cost to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash, to limit their staff to the barest minimum and to wear masks at all time without fail.
The order also stated that wine stores should extend full cooperation and comply with the arrangement of the district administration, police, excise and other authorities involved by the district administration for regulation and monitoring purposes.
The Deputy Commissioner (Excise) has also directed that only one person per household is allowed to visit the wine store for purchase, to maintain social distancing of at least six feet, respiratory etiquette, to strictly follow all directives and advisories issued by the health and family welfare department with reference to COVID-19 situation and to avoid overcrowding and congestion in one location.
According to the order, if there is violation of these instructions and advisories and spitting in public places by any person, be it wine store owners or customers alike, they shall be liable to be prosecuted under Section 269 and 188 of IPC, Section 133 of CrPC and other relevant provisions of law.
The order also stated that wine stores owners should mandatorily take appropriate measures to prevent people from crowding and breaking social distancing norm in their respective premises and failure to enforce these prescribed norms will warrant the closure of such wine store.
The Deputy Commissioner (Excise) also directed district officers of excise department to enforce the prescribed norms with the support of police, concerned sub divisional officers (civil), block development officers and zonal team leaders in East Khasi Hills District.
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