Coronavirus - India: Liquor bill exceeding Rs52,800 (Dh2,564) goes viral on Whatsapp as lockdown eases in India, Bengaluru vendor booked

A liquor bill of Rs52,800 (Dh2,564) that went viral on WhatsApp across India has got both the seller and buyer into trouble. The state of Karnataka’s excise department has booked a case against the seller for selling far more alcohol, than the permissible limit.

In India, retail outlets are not allowed to sell more than 2.3 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) or 18.2 litres of beer to a customer per day.

In this case, the retailer, Vanilla Spirit Zone in Tavarekere in Bengaluru South, sold 17.4 litres of liquor and over 35 litres of beer to a customer. Excise officials came to know about the violation when a photo of the bill went viral on social media. This happened just a few hours after liquor shops reopened on Monday, post the 46-day lockdown.

Within just one day Karnataka recorded alcohol sales worth Rs45 crore (Nearly Dh22 million) as lockdown restrictions eased.

Many took to Twitter to discuss how stores and customers were violating government rules. And, that instead of helping the needy, money was going into buying so much alcohol.

Tweep @Sharique_Madani wrote: “Check this bill it’s crazy people buying liquor for ₹52, 800/- it’s really bad to see this that they have money to spend on waste which lasts a few minutes, but, they don’t want to help people in need. Cancel license of the retail who sold so much of liquor even after a limit is given.”

The buyer, who presumably posted the bill on social media, remains unidentified. The excise department can file a case against the buyer too, because the rules prohibit a person from carrying more than 2.6 liters of any category of liquor.

When the officials questioned the shop owner, he said the liquor was purchased by a group of eight people, but the payment was made using a single card.

According to news website indianexpress.com, Giri J, Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Bengaluru South said: “Prima facie, we have found a violation of the license condition mandated by the Excise Department to retailers. According to the bill, 17.4 litres IMFL and 35.7 litres of beer have been sold to an individual. An FIR has been filed under the Karnataka Excise Act (Chapter VII, rule 36).”

“The retailer claims that the purchase was made by eight people together but the same was billed together as the payment was made from a single ATM/debit card. The investigation is now underway and further action will be taken accordingly,” the Deputy Commissioner (Excise) added.

Tweep @binilization shared another May 4 liquor store bill for an amount over Rs90,000 (Dh4,368.38) that was going viral, the location of the bill is unknown. He wrote: “#Bills received as forwarded. That's a lot more than an #average person's #income. Looks like the #money spent can #feed a lot of #families.”

Another bill of Rs 59,952 in Mangaluru has also been doing the rounds of social media.