It was recently reported that the Excise Department has, taking into account the rise in illicit liquor consumption caused by the ban imposed on the sale of liquor as part of lockdown measures, paid attention to permitting the delivery of liquor the same way other essential day-to-day items are currently delivered. According to the Department, this is still at the discussion level, and is intended to generate the revenue lost due to the ban on the sale of liquor and to prevent people from consuming illicit liquor.
The truth is, despite the lockdown or the ban on the sale of liquor, liquor consumption has not stopped – it merely declined. Recent social media groups about liquor show that as the lockdown was extended, a new market was created for liquor, and that more and more people sought to buy liquor at exorbitant prices. To make matters worse, some social media posts also suggest that a tendency has developed among those who consume liquor to manufacture and sometimes sell illicit liquor in small quantities.
This situation has not only created a black market for liquor, but has also created an environment where people misuse the permission they have received to commute to work during the lockdown to go and buy liquor – behaviour and conduct which can result in jeopardising the main objective of imposing a lockdown, thereby posing a risk of the further spread of Covid-19. In fact, this development, i.e. the increase in illegal liquor consumption, was acknowledged by the Excise Department as well.
Taking the initiative to devise a mechanism to deliver liquor to homes can be beneficial in several ways, and at the same time be harmful to a certain extent. Maintaining a balance between these potential benefits and harms is a challenge the Government is facing, should it decide to implement this plan.
Allowing the delivery of liquor to homes could be a short-term solution to the rising illicit liquor demand, which poses a threat to the lives of those who consume it, as there is no way to evaluate its quality or the improvised production methods used to produce illicit liquor. Sri Lanka has witnessed many incidents of illicit liquor poisoning, some of which cost people’s lives.
From an economic perspective, allowing the resumption of the sale of liquor is a timely decision, as the ban is costing the country approximately Rs. 600 million a day, which is a massive income for a country that is struggling to survive when a large number of businesses have come to a halt. Losing such a daily income can be averted if the delivery of liquor was made available, at least to a considerable extent, and it can be implemented with resources which are already available. This can also be a long-term income generator for delivery services, and also an opportunity to streamline the delivery services operating in the country, some of which are not subjected to any recognised standards set by the Government.
It is evident that this move, if implemented, could bring about several benefits. However, liquor consumption is more or less linked to several forms of domestic issues, especially domestic violence, and in a time when the country is under lockdown, it can be a stress-causing factor as well as a stress reliever. One may argue that the responsible consumption of liquor is the responsibility of the consumer; however, during a lockdown, people may not behave the same way they did when the country was not under lockdown. Therefore, more than logistics-related matters, this move calls for a mechanism which focuses more on standards, regulations, and monitoring, since Sri Lanka does not have prior experience in delivering liquor to homes on this scale, unlike its neighbour India. In fact, delivering liquor is a newly introduced service, and there are many liquor delivery services in the South Asian region. Even in Sri Lanka, there are a handful of liquor delivery services which are not operating during the lockdown.
Furthermore, this is a rare Government filled with conservative voices, be it on the political, religious, or social fronts, and it is those voices that could be expected to oppose any plans to permit liquor delivery, claiming it encourages alcohol consumption. However, as they are inside the Government, their Opposition is likely to be less vociferous than if this plan was hatched by a different government. Therefore, this Government, with its near two-thirds majority in Parliament and a massive Sinhala-Buddhist voter base, is well placed to drive through a controversial but mostly positive initiative such as this one ignoring the ultra-conservative voices.
This whole discussion revolves around two concerns: Why can liquor not be sold as a normal good as long as it is legal and responsibility-related requirements are fulfilled, and whether Sri Lanka is ready to enjoy more freedom as far as liquor consumption is concerned. If a mechanism is developed to ensure that both the seller and the buyer act responsibly, this could be a success, and a rare initiative which is driven by neither emotion nor politics and not blocked by cultural and religious considerations.Bring on liquor delivery
15 Jun 2021
Bring on liquor delivery
15 Jun 2021
It was recently reported that the Excise Department has, taking into account the rise in illicit liquor consumption caused by the ban imposed on the sale of liquor as part of lockdown measures, paid attention to permitting the delivery of liquor the same way other essential day-to-day items are currently delivered. According to the Department, this is still at the discussion level, and is intended to generate the revenue lost due to the ban on the sale of liquor and to prevent people from consuming illicit liquor.
The truth is, despite the lockdown or the ban on the sale of liquor, liquor consumption has not stopped – it merely declined. Recent social media groups about liquor show that as the lockdown was extended, a new market was created for liquor, and that more and more people sought to buy liquor at exorbitant prices. To make matters worse, some social media posts also suggest that a tendency has developed among those who consume liquor to manufacture and sometimes sell illicit liquor in small quantities.
This situation has not only created a black market for liquor, but has also created an environment where people misuse the permission they have received to commute to work during the lockdown to go and buy liquor – behaviour and conduct which can result in jeopardising the main objective of imposing a lockdown, thereby posing a risk of the further spread of Covid-19. In fact, this development, i.e. the increase in illegal liquor consumption, was acknowledged by the Excise Department as well.
Taking the initiative to devise a mechanism to deliver liquor to homes can be beneficial in several ways, and at the same time be harmful to a certain extent. Maintaining a balance between these potential benefits and harms is a challenge the Government is facing, should it decide to implement this plan.
Allowing the delivery of liquor to homes could be a short-term solution to the rising illicit liquor demand, which poses a threat to the lives of those who consume it, as there is no way to evaluate its quality or the improvised production methods used to produce illicit liquor. Sri Lanka has witnessed many incidents of illicit liquor poisoning, some of which cost people’s lives.
From an economic perspective, allowing the resumption of the sale of liquor is a timely decision, as the ban is costing the country approximately Rs. 600 million a day, which is a massive income for a country that is struggling to survive when a large number of businesses have come to a halt. Losing such a daily income can be averted if the delivery of liquor was made available, at least to a considerable extent, and it can be implemented with resources which are already available. This can also be a long-term income generator for delivery services, and also an opportunity to streamline the delivery services operating in the country, some of which are not subjected to any recognised standards set by the Government.
It is evident that this move, if implemented, could bring about several benefits. However, liquor consumption is more or less linked to several forms of domestic issues, especially domestic violence, and in a time when the country is under lockdown, it can be a stress-causing factor as well as a stress reliever. One may argue that the responsible consumption of liquor is the responsibility of the consumer; however, during a lockdown, people may not behave the same way they did when the country was not under lockdown. Therefore, more than logistics-related matters, this move calls for a mechanism which focuses more on standards, regulations, and monitoring, since Sri Lanka does not have prior experience in delivering liquor to homes on this scale, unlike its neighbour India. In fact, delivering liquor is a newly introduced service, and there are many liquor delivery services in the South Asian region. Even in Sri Lanka, there are a handful of liquor delivery services which are not operating during the lockdown.
Furthermore, this is a rare Government filled with conservative voices, be it on the political, religious, or social fronts, and it is those voices that could be expected to oppose any plans to permit liquor delivery, claiming it encourages alcohol consumption. However, as they are inside the Government, their Opposition is likely to be less vociferous than if this plan was hatched by a different government. Therefore, this Government, with its near two-thirds majority in Parliament and a massive Sinhala-Buddhist voter base, is well placed to drive through a controversial but mostly positive initiative such as this one ignoring the ultra-conservative voices.
This whole discussion revolves around two concerns: Why can liquor not be sold as a normal good as long as it is legal and responsibility-related requirements are fulfilled, and whether Sri Lanka is ready to enjoy more freedom as far as liquor consumption is concerned. If a mechanism is developed to ensure that both the seller and the buyer act responsibly, this could be a success, and a rare initiative which is driven by neither emotion nor politics and not blocked by cultural and religious considerations.Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!