Bhubaneswar: Amid the huge loss in revenue due to restrictions imposed on the sale of liquor, the Odisha government decided Monday to allow the shops to remain open till 10.30pm in the evening. Earlier the shops were downing the shutters ate 6.00pm in the evening. The government is hoping that extending the closure time of the shops would garner additional revenue for it. Now liquor shops will remain open from 10.30am in the morning till 10.30pm at night.
Home delivery of the liquor, which was allowed from July 1, will also continue, the state excise department said in a statement. However, drinking within the premises of a shop will not be allowed.
Issuing a notification the Excise Department stated: “Counter sale of FMFL/IMFL/wine/beer/RTD/out still liquor and ENA based country liquor in the licensed IMFL ‘OFF’, ‘ON’, O.S, C.L shops outside the containment zone has been allowed between 10.30am and 10.30 m.”
PNN
