Kolkata witnessed long queues outside liquor stores on Friday morning as off-shops reopened after a four-day shutdown, despite the intense heat. By 8:30 am, 40-50 people were seen waiting outside multiple outlets for their two-bottle-per-purchase quota, as mandated by the excise department. Areas with several outlets had shorter queues, but the turnout remained steady throughout the day, reflecting pent-up demand after the sudden suspension of sales.
Mixed Emotions Among Customers
The mood was a blend of impatience and relief. Many endured the scorching sun, but satisfaction was evident as they emerged clutching their purchases. By evening, shop owners had run out of stock, unsure how to meet demand on Saturday. At Ruttonjee Dadabhoy and Sons FL Off Shop on Ganesh Chandra Avenue, the queue snaked along the pavement. Nilratan Patra, a tea-seller, joined at 8:20 am, leaving his shop in an employee's care. “Morning is a busy time for me but I had no choice,” he said after purchasing at 11:20 am. “Liquor shops were suddenly shut for four days without any alert.”
Grievances Over Unannounced Shutdown
The lack of warning was a common grievance. “If they wanted to impose a prohibition, they should have given us time to stock up. This sudden ban is sheer harassment,” said Raju Sharma, who arrived outside a shop in Girish Park around 8 am. Despite the frustration, order prevailed. Civic cops were stationed at some outlets, but customers maintained discipline. “If there is any chaos, they may shut the shop. It's better to wait for our turn,” said Sudipto Ghosh outside Empire Restaurant & Bar FL Off Shop Counter on Lenin Sarani.
Two-Bottle Limit and Stockpiling Attempts
The two-bottle limit was strictly enforced, disappointing many who hoped to stock up for the next prohibition period starting Saturday 6 pm. Regular operations resume only on April 30 after the second phase of elections on April 29. Off-shops received verbal instructions from excise authorities not to sell more than two bottles per person. However, customers visited multiple shops to bypass the rule. “I visited three shops and picked up six bottles,” said Jitendra Sau, a resident of Collin Street.
Fatigue and Supply Challenges
By afternoon, fatigue set in as the sun intensified. People stepped out of queues for shade and water. In Kasba, medical representative Soumik Mukherjee waited two hours. “Once I am done, my colleagues will go in a rotational way,” he said. Shop owners struggled to meet demand. A Kasba shop owner said they replenished supplies from their godown multiple times. “We had expected a rush but not this much,” he said. By evening, customers had limited choices. “I wanted to buy premium beer but could get only the strong variety,” said Rinky Das, who visited a shop in the evening.
