New Delhi: The District Excise Officer in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa issued an order Wednesday directing liquor stores to sell alcohol only to those who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The order in Hindi, dated 17 November, stated the district administration’s objective to vaccinate every resident under the ongoing ‘Vaccination Mahaabhiyan’ drive.
It added: “For this, it is directed that alcohol from all 55 country and 19 foreign liquor shops operating in the district should only be sold to those persons/consumers who have got both doses of the vaccine.”
What is bewildering though is that no one will be asked to show their vaccination certificates to prove that they have received the shots, because the excise officer believes “those who drink don’t lie”.
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Faith in buyers
Speaking to the media Thursday, Khandwa District Excise Officer R.P. Kirar said, “We will also put up boards stating that alcohol should be sold only to those who are fully vaccinated.”
When asked by the media how it can be verified whether the buyer is telling the truth about having received the shots, Kirar said, “Hindustan me, humara khud ka anubhav hai ki, daru peene wala sahi bolta hai… certificate nahi… Jo grahak bolega usko dono (doses) lag gaya hai, usko hum denge (Those who drink alcohol in India don’t lie. We won’t ask for a vaccination certificate. Whoever says he has received both the doses will be allowed to buy alcohol).”
According to the government of India website, 7,80,80,750 people in Madhya Pradesh have been vaccinated against Covid as of 18 November. Of these, 5,04,61,867 have received their first dose and 2,76,18,883 have received both doses.
As of 15 November, Madhya Pradesh is fourth among states to have administered the highest number of vaccine doses, with Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal among the top three.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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