Karnataka cashed in revenues of Rs 45 crore from liquor sales on May 4, as the state opened standalone liquor stores while keeping with MHA guidelines. According to the Excise Department, around 3.9 lakh litre of beer was sold and 8.5 lakh litre of Indian-made foreign liquor on day one of the restrictions being lifted.

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The Excise Department in the state had urged the government to allow the sale of liquor to generate revenues.

Someone spent his month's salary today #wineshops pic.twitter.com/0tOCIUhoOL

— Abhishek Baadkar (@Ibaadu) May 4, 2020

Long queues were seen at liquor stores across the country as numerous commenced the sale of alcohol on Monday.

The state Excise Department has allowed retail liquor outlets, the Karnataka State Beverage Corporations Limited (KSBCL) and Mysore Sales International Ltd depots to sell liquor outside containment zones from 9 am to 7 pm starting May 4.

Pubs and restaurants are still not allowed to sell liquor as they will remain closed until May 17. Karnataka was among the first states to ban the sale of liquor as it went into lockdown ahead of the nationwide lockdown in March.

First Published:May 4, 2020 8:36 PM IST