Khandwa officer says 'verbal verification of vaccination' enough for alcohol sale

In a bizarre statement, an excise officer from Mhya Presh's Khandwa claimed that 'those who drink do not lie'. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, District excise officer RP Kirar claimed that verbal confirmation of double vaccination was enough for customers buying liquor. Khandwa has mandated vaccination for sale of liquor to customers in district.

Khandwa: 'Drinkers don't lie'

"Alcohol will be sold at liquor stores to only those people who have received both doses of COVID vaccine. Customers are being asked verbally of it and boards are being put up," said Kirar. When asked about what will be verification process, he said, "That is upon customers' honesty. If he says that he is vaccinated, that is enough. In my experience, those who drink don’t lie. No vaccination proof is required."

Similar rules have been mandated by or districts like Ooty in Tamil Nu. In September, Udhagamandalam District Collector Smt.J.Innocent Divya in an order stated that alcohol would only be served to 100% inoculated customers. While order by DC did not specify exact number of doses, some outlets like TASMAC in Nilgiri district specified that proof of both registered doses has to be shown to complete a purchase. In video footage accessed by Republic Media Network, customers could be seen being stopped at entrance of alcohol stores and being interrogated about proof of vaccination.

Ex-MP CM demands liquor ban

Meanwhile, ex-MP CM Uma Bharti has set deline of January 15 for MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for implementing prohibition policy and state unit BJP president V D Sharma to run an awareness campaign against liquor. BJP veteran, who h served as chief minister of Mhya Presh from December 2003 to August 2004, said she will le campaign for total prohibition after January 15. later she also worried that liquor mafia may run a campaign against her after she called for prohibition.

"If all goes well, n this public awareness campaign will run for five months. In meantime, my Ganga Yatra will also be completed. After that, I will review situation between January 15 and 20, 2022. I am sure that (MP) government will decide on a liquor ban in state orwise women will take to streets for a liquor ban. I will also be involved,” she tweeted.