Cascading corona: Bar workers doomed

Hyderabad: The 15-day shutdown of bars and pubs to prevent spread of coronavirus in the state would not only result in shrinking of liquor sales in the state but also leave more than 10,000 workers jobless.

The closure of bars and pubs in Telangana, which is considered as one of the highest alcohol consuming states in the country, is likely to affect liquor sales by at least 25 per cent to 30 per cent.

On the directions of Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, who also holds the post of Secretary of the Commercial Taxes and Excise and Prohibition department, 1000 plus bars (60 percent of them located in Hyderabad) stopped serving liquor from Sunday onwards.

About 200 clubs, including the famous Nizam Club, Secunderabad Club, Jubilee Club, etc, have shut their operations. Resorts and liquor-serving facilities in tourist spots have also gone dry.

The officials of state Excise Department said that liquor sales will dip by more than 25 per cent after the closure of bars and also the permit rooms at more than 2000 licensed liquor outlets.

The only option before liquor consumers is to buy liquor from wine shops and drink the same at their residence. "Sort of self quarantine," a dealer quipped. According to sources, the revenue from bars and clubs is Rs 40 crore per day.

The ban will incur Rs 500 crore to Rs 600 crore loss to the state exchequer in the next two weeks. The government apprehends that this could impact overall revenue growth of the state adversely.

What is causing concern to the government is the problems that might arise from the employees becoming jobless at least for the next two weeks. It would have cascading impact on the suppliers of raw vegetables, chicken, meat, fish and other required food stuff.

The possibility of comeback of ID (illicit distilled) liquor sales through unauthorised belt shops looms large in urban areas where the bars closed during the two-week period.

Hence the government has asked the Excise and police officials to keep a strict watch on such illegal practices.