Tipplers line up at wine shops from 6 am across Telangana

There was, however, not much of a crowd in liquor shops unlike Tuesday evening when there was a scramble to pick up liquor soon after the State government announced its decision to impose lockdown.

Nalgonda: Tipplers made a beeline for liquor outlets across the district from 6 am on Wednesday to pick up ‘stocks’ during the 4-hour window when shops would be allowed to open between 6 am and 10 am.

To ensure the physical distance between customers, circles were drawn by shop owners. There was, however, not much of a crowd in liquor shops unlike Tuesday evening when there was a scramble to pick up liquor soon after the State government announced its decision to impose lockdown.

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K Somaiah, an early bird, said he usually purchases liquor in the evening. “But, with the restrictions now, I have been forced to buy in the morning,” he said, adding that he would consume it in the morning itself.

N Sathaiah said the lockdown was making people buy groceries, fruits and others items in the morning time. “Just like them, I am also buying liquor for myself in the morning. There is no need to put people like us under the lens when the government is allowing liquor sale only in the mornings,” he said.

Pensioners rushed to post offices

Following the lockdown, welfare pensioners including old aged persons started arriving at the post offices by 9 am and waited in queue lines to receive their pensions. They were forced to wait till the opening of the post offices at 10 am.

Mild rush at liquor shops in Karimnagar

Karimnagar: Liquor shops were less crowded in the erstwhile Karimnagar district before the imposition of lockdown from 10 am on Wednesday.

A huge number of people thronged wine shops on Tuesday afternoon when the State government announced its decision to impose lockdown from Wednesday onwards. However, many liquor lovers were not seen in liquor outlets on Wednesday morning.

Instead of completely closing like the previous lockdown, the government has given relaxation for wine shops this time around.

Without knowing it, people had rushed liquor shops on Tuesday afternoon. Taking it as an advantage, some of the wine shop owners have blocked liquor stocks by shifting them to other places and closed shops on Tuesday evening.

With the news of wine shops being open from 6 am to 10 am on par with other business establishments spread, a smaller number of people were sent to wine shops in the morning.
People who turn up for liquor were seen following covid norms including wearing face masks. There was no need for physical distance since a meager number of people were seen at shops.

Speaking to Telangana Today, S Praveen, who purchased a liquor bottle at court chowk wine shop in Karimnagar, said there was a small function in their home in the evening. So, he purchased a liquor bottle in the morning since wine shops will not be open in the evening.
Though it was uncomfortable to purchase liquor in the morning, there was no other way, he said.

Mad rush at shops, markets in Nizamabad

Nizamabad: As the Telangana government announced a 10-lockdown in the State, most of the Kirana, general stores and vegetable markets witnessed a huge rush across the erstwhile Nizamabad district on Wednesday.

People lined up at shops and vegetable markets in Nizamabad town to purchase essential commodities as they were allowed to buy them between 6 am to 10 am. Tipplers across the district made a beeline at liquor shops which were opened early in the morning from 6 am.

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