Nearly Rs 4 cr liquor sold in Odisha online in two days

Bhubaneswar: In two days of liquor sales in Odisha after the Government gave  permission for its home delivery, retailers purchased both foreign liquor and beer worth Rs 3.90 crore through the Odisha State Beverage Corporation (OSBC).

After the state Government’s permission, around 1,100 retailers opened their shutters till yesterday while remaining 982 could not open as district excise officials have not completed stock verification process, sources said.

As per the order issued by state Excise Department, home delivery of liquor has already started in 29 excise districts.

“Reports from field indicate that a total of 672 ON/OFF shop licensees have started participating in the home delivery across the state. During the day on May 25,  they have delivered 8,420 orders.  A total of 9,440 bulk litre of foreign liquor and 10,689 bulk litre of beer were sold through home delivery yesterday, “said a statement issued by  the Excise Department.

Cuttack, Khordha and Sundargarh are the top three districts in terms of number of orders delivered, the statement added.

Worth mentioning, there are nine depots running under the OSBC-Balangir, Balasore, Cuttack Nirgundi, Berhampur, Chandikhole, Khordha, Rayagada and Sambalpur. On the first day i.e on May 24, merchants only in Balasore  purchased liquor from the depot there.  In two days, Balasore deport made a business of total Rs 21.40 lakh. Yesterday, eight deports barring the one in Chandikhole sold alcohol worth Rs 2,79,50000 ( foreign liquor worth Rs 2,55,45000 and beer worth Rs 24,40,402).

On the other hand, while  Swiggy and Zomato have been given NOC for home delivery of liquor at different places across the state, retailers are not agreeing to tie up with the online food delivery platforms. Instead, they are delivering liquor at doorsteps through their own salesmen.

“Swiggy and Zomato are in the process of tying up with the liquor merchants and are expected to start their operations from today,” said the Excise Department.