LIQUOR AT DOORSTEP?: AS STATES OPEN LIQUOR SHOPS AMID COVID-19 SPREAD, ZOMATO PROPOSES DELIVERY THROUGH ONLINE ORDER!

As the state government of Tamil Nadu has also opened up the liquor stores from today, Zomato is aiming at cashing in, by branching out to deliver liquor to the door steps of people. Zomato has expanded its services since the nation-wide lockdown, by offering to deliver groceries, and hence, this new array of delivering ideas are being considered by the company.

Currently, the problem of people not abiding by the norms of social distancing while attempting to purchase alcohol is causing major trouble. Although various state governments and police forces are coming up with solutions, from across the country, Zomato is looking at a different solution.

In a business proposal to International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWAI), Mohit Gupta, Chief Executive Officer for delivery in Zomato wrote, "We believe that a technology-enabled home delivery based solution can promote responsible consumption of alcohol.”

Reuters reported that in the same proposal, Gupta had mentioned that the company will focus on those areas which are not adversely affected by the novel coronavirus. ISWAI's executive chairman Amrit Kiran Singh said that the states should allow alcohol deliveries since it will increase the revenue of the states, which has been enormously hit by the lockdown. "The challenge is to ensure revenue from alcohol continues to be available," he told Reuters. "...It is imperative they (states) reduce the load on the retail counter ... by encouraging home delivery."

However, there are no current provisions for home delivery of alcohol and the ISWAI is trying to make it possible with Zomato and other business ventures.