As per a notification issued by the Excise department, Odisha government has decided to allow home delivery of liquor from the existing ON and OFF shops of IMFL and Beer situated in areas other than containment zones and shopping malls by amending the relevant provisions under Excise Rules, 2017.
However, there will be no counter sale of liquor by excise licensees, the notification read.
A customer will have to shell out extra for the purchasing liquor as the State government has imposed the ‘Special Covid Fee” by amending the relevant rules and increased the MRPs of all types of foreign liquor and Beer by 50% of the MRPs prevailing last year (2019-20).
The additional revenue generated will go towards meeting the expenses being incurred by the State government in the treatment of Covid-19 patients and other related activities.
As per the decision, the Home delivery of liquor can be taken up by retailers directly and also through reputed food aggregators, standard technology platforms, delivery service providers etc. acting as retail aggregators.
Excise department has categorically instructed ON/OFF shop licensees to display their phone/mobile/WhatsApp no./email IDs/UPI details for receiving the orders and facilitating digital payments outside their shop.
The district-wise list of ON/OFF shops licensees along with their details will be uploaded on OSBC website (osbc.co.in). The product-wise latest MRP will also be displayed on the website. The retailers can receive orders for home delivery of liquor over phone or through SMS, whatsapp, email etc.
Strict instructions have been issued to retailers to ensure that there is no crowding in front of their shops.
Also Read: Liquor Sale: SC Asks States To Consider Home Delivery
The food aggregators, standard technology platforms, delivery service providers acting as retail aggregators for the purpose of home delivery of liquor can be engaged by retailers only when they have taken NOC (No Objection Certificate) from Excise Commissioner, Odisha. The list of agencies granted NOC by Excise Commissioner will be published on the website of OSBC(Odisha State Beverage Corporation Ltd).
The retailers/aggregators shall abide by the MRP notification issued by OSBC Ltd. from time to time failing which appropriate legal action shall be initiated.
No extra charge beyond notified MRP plus delivery charges (as notified by Excise Commissioner) shall be demanded/collected from consumers.
In case of electronic payment (inter-bank transaction/credit card etc.), any nominal commission charged by the bank can also be realised from the customer.
Excise Commissioner has been authorized to decide on the rates for delivery charges from time to time. The ceiling notified by him at present is Rs 100 for orders up to Rs 1000 and thereafter Rs 25 for every additional Rs 500 order value. In no case the delivery charge will exceed Rs 300. The aggregators can fix their own rates subject to the above ceiling.
Normal timing for Home delivery would be between 7 AM to 6 PM. Orders are expected to be delivered within 6 hours.
The retailers and other agencies involved in home delivery have to abide by the legal provisions of the maximum quantity of liquor that can be transported in each delivery. They will also have to develop an appropriate mechanism to enforce the legal age of drinking and other restrictions imposed by law in the State.
The retailers/aggregators will have to follow the legal provisions relating to advertisement & publicity for liquor. No picture/image/infographics/video etc. or alluring offers for promotion of any products/brand will be done through their mobile application, portal, website or any such digital platforms created for placing orders.
The delivery persons would be required to carry an I-Card issued by the retailer/agency and an invoice which will also act a pass to facilitate movement. The concerned person will deliver the items along with the invoice in lieu of the payment. The invoice of the purchase should clearly reflect the name & address of the customer, the description and quantity of the liquor dispatched with MRP, the time and date of dispatch of the liquor, the price if paid or to be paid, delivery charges, and the bank charges, wherever applicable, separately.
The delivery boys will have to follow all the social distancing norms like wearing masks, maintaining six feet distance and using sanitizer frequently. No person having any symptom or is unwell should be engaged for home delivery. Digital payment is advisable which will facilitate contactless transactions and ensure social distancing.
“It is to further clarify that online sale of liquor is based on consent/agreement between the buyers and the sellers/third part aggregators/delivery service providers and retailers. The State will not be a party to any possible dispute between/amongst them. However, breach of any term and condition fixed by the government or any legal provisions by any party/parties shall invite appropriate legal action,” the statement read.
(Edited by Pradip Singh)
"Once the liquor shops are opened, we will have to pay the fixed taxes and it will not be possible for us to meet the monthly minimum quota through the online sale,” said Biranchi Narayan Sahoo, secretary of Cuttack Liquor Traders' Association.
Both online and offline sale of liquor need to be allowed as online sale will not help the traders meet the target, said Sahoo.
"Our main demand is to allow counter sale of liquor along with the online sale. We tried to open shops today but people rushed to counters and started demanding liquor. We need police protection to deal with such incidents," said Prabhat Das, president of Khurda Liquor Traders' Association.
Speaking on the incident, Khurda Excise Superintendent Prasanna Kumar Acharya said that a meeting was held with the trader associations on Sunday and they have been given assurances of police protection for opening shops.
[caption id="attachment_453425" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Khurda Excise Superintendent Prasanna Kumar Acharya[/caption]
"Apart from government protection, we have also asked them to engage some private security guards. We have reached to an amicable solution today and they will open the shops now," said Acharya.
Meanwhile, both the BJP and the Congress have come down heavily on the ruling-BJD for allowing sale of liquor in the State.
“Odisha government’s COVID-19 spokesperson, Subroto Bagchi had said that consumption of liquor will affect immunity system and such people will become vulnerable to the virus but the government is now planning to open liquor shops across the State,” said BJP MLA Pradipta Naik.
There seems a lot of difference between what is being said and done by the Odisha government, alleged Naik.
Congress MLA Sura Routray alleged rampant illegal sale of liquor during the lockdown in the State and said, ‘once the sops are opened, people are not going to follow any norms.’
However, State Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari said that online sale of liquor has already begun in Odisha and all measures have been taken to strictly follow the social distancing norms.
Also Read: Home Delivery Of Liquor In Odisha From Tomorrow, 50% COVID Fee Imposed
Read More: Zomato, Swiggy to home-deliver liquor in Odisha
Starting with Bhubaneswar, Zomato said it will soon expand to other cities like Rourkela, Balasore, Balangir, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Cuttack.
"We're happy to be of service to our users in Odisha who can now use Zomato to get alcohol delivered in addition to grocery and food delivery," Rakesh Ranjan, Vice President at Zomato, said in a statement.
"We are working very closely with excise departments to ensure end-to-end compliance to the safety guidelines and are also introducing consumption and identity verification protocols to promote responsible ordering and consumption," Ranjan said.
Users can avail the service from 9 am to 6 pm as permitted by the state authorities, Zomato said, adding that the app will only feature licensed retailers, who have applied for the service.
There would be age checks at the time of ordering as well as when the product is delivered, the company said.
Users will be required to upload a valid ID proof to be eligible for ordering which would later be verified by the delivery partner at the time of handing over the order.
There would also be product category limits to promote responsible ordering, it added.
Swiggy and Zomato last week said they had received permissions to start alcohol home delivery service in Jharkhand.
Earlier, the Excise Commissioner had issued a statement informing about commencing home delivery of liquor in 29 excise districts.
It also stated that around 8,420 orders were delivered on 1st day. While Cuttack, Khurda & Sundergarh registered highest sale.
Home delivery of liquor started in 29 excise districts. 8,420 orders delivered on 1st day. Cuttack, Khurda & Sundergarh registered highest sale. Swiggy & Zomato are in process of tying up with retailers & expected to start their operation from today: Excise Commissioner #Odisha pic.twitter.com/peNVEKJcGb
— OTV (@otvnews) May 26, 2020
Also Read:
Fake Online Liquor Vendor ‘Dupes’ Odisha Youth Of Rs 36000
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(IANS)
In a letter to district collectors, Principal Secretary of Excise Department, SK Lohani has said though the stock verification has already been completed in most of the districts, the exercise should be carried out again by executive magistrate and revenue officers before allowing home delivery of liquor.
#Odisha Excise department asks collectors of all districts to complete recheck/verification of liquor stocks in FL off & on shops across the State within a week pic.twitter.com/zvHPR2yGz7
— OTV (@otvnews) June 2, 2020
In order to ensure that the differential amount collected by the retail licensees is deposited in the State Exchequer, the excise field officials have been instructed to verify the stock in FL 'OFF' and FL 'ON' shops before allowing them home delivery, Lohani stated in the letter.
He further added, “While conducting this stock verification as on the date of lockdown, it will be prudent to take into account the last stock lifting details prior to lockdown from OSBC (available with Excise Officers), the daily average sales figures maintained by retailers as well as the details of home delivery executed during the current period."
“This process should be completed within a week and a report confirming the same may be submitted to Excise Department without fail,” he added.
According to the letter, the government has imposed 'special Covid fees' on all India Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), beer, wine and RTD (Ready to Drink) sold in the State. After the imposition of special Covid fees, the MRP of liquor has 2020-21 has increased substantially.
With the introduction of policy regarding home delivery by the F.L 'OFF and F.L 'ON' shop licensees, all these licensees have been allowed to sell the remaining stocks of 2019-20 available with them at the time of closure at the enhanced MRP of 2020-21.
The licensees have been instructed to deposit the differential amount (i.e. MRP of 2020/21- MRP of 2019/20) with OSBC Ltd. The OSBC Ltd. will deposit the amount with the government under proper head of account.
Also Read: Home Delivery Of Liquor: Odisha Launches ‘Secure’ portal
(Edited by Suryakant Jena)
https://youtu.be/Gblaz5ODx30
The home delivery can be done between 7 am to 6 pm subject to compliance of lockdown orders issued by local authorities, he said.
"The state government has allowed home delivery of Out Still (OS) liquor and ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol) based country liquor across the state except those situated in containment zones with immediate effect," a notification issued by the department said.
The retailers are entitled to delivery charges of Rs 10 per bottle/ pouch but not exceeding Rs 50 per order, the official said.
Home delivery of Out Still (OS) Liquor & Country Liquor (CL)#Odisha allows home delivery except in containment zones between 7 AM & 6 PM
Delivery charges of Rs 10 per bottle/pouch but not exceeding Rs 50 per order
-Excise Department
— OTV (@otvnews) June 29, 2020
They will also have to prominently display their phone/mobile/WhatsApp number for receiving orders.
"At this stage, OS and CL licensees have not been permitted the sale of liquor across the counter in their premises," the notification said.
Earlier, the state government on May 24 had allowed ON and OFF shop licensees to sell alcohol through the home delivery system by engaging their own personnel or through food aggregators.
(PTI)
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