This is an archive article published on May 8, 2020
Home delivery option fails to lift liquor vends shutters and hopes of better sales, contractors want licence fee cut
While vends in Mohali and Ropar were opened, a number of vends in other parts of the state did not operate seeking the state government to review the Excise policy in view of the COVID-19 lockdown and the economy suffering a setback.
The contractors have been asking the government to reduce the licence fee in view of the fact that their business was set to suffer. (Representational Photo)
On the day Punjab government allowed liquor shops to operate with a provision of home delivery of liquor, most contractors in the state boycotted the government move and preferred to keep their vends shut.
While vends in Mohali and Ropar were opened, a number of vends in other parts of the state did not operate seeking the state government to review the Excise policy in view of the COVID-19 lockdown and the economy suffering a setback.
The home delivery option of the state government did not find favour with the contractors who chose to keep shops shut.
Varinder Sharma, an office bearer of Liquor Contractors Association said, “Only 10 per cent of vends in the state opened. They just wanted to be following the government orders. Otherwise there is no point opening the vends and then home deliver two litres of liquor,” he said.
He added that stores in Mohali, Ropar and a few shops in Bathinda opened up. “In rest of the state including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Patiala and Sangrur, most of the vends remained shut,” said Sharma.
Inderpal Singh, another contractor, said that the seeing the response , the Excise Commissioner, Punjab has called the contractors in his office on Friday for a meeting.
“Let us see what comes up. But we are certain that we will not change our stand till the government listens to us. For a small and large group of licensed vends, the everyday licence fee that we owe to the government turns out to be between Rs 1 to 1.5 lakh. The same amount is spent on purchase of liquor. How much money do you think we are going to make to pay the government so much? In the current scenario when no function is being organised, people have no money for even food, and the economy has suffered a setback, do you think people will spend on liquor?”
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The contractors have been asking the government to reduce the licence fee in view of the fact that their business was set to suffer.
These contractors are also up in arms against the government for allowing the home delivery through phone calls. “We cannot handle this. For instance in a city like Ludhiana, it is difficult to locate addresses in maze like streets of old city. Do you think it is advisable for a delivery boy to spend two hours on two litres of liquor? Moreover, what if these delivery boys start operating their own delivery system? It will only end in creating a parallel system and encourage smuggling,” said Sharma.
The contractors claimed that unlike Delhi where there are not as many vends as in Punjab, there is no sense in allowing home delivery. “There are 5,800 vends in Punjab. Every city has about 300 shops. There is a vend in every nook and cranny. Why is the home delivery option needed?” questioned Sharma, adding there was no rush at the shops opening in Punjab unlike in other states as people had already hoarded their liquor. “Nobody, in Punjab ran to buy liquor. Here people are not like other cities. They keep crates instead of buying their daily quota. Plus, the liquor was being sold clandestinely during curfew,” said Sharma.
If the vends do not open, the state’s mission to make Rs 500 crore every month from excise would be hit. The state had extended the licence of the vends in the current fiscal after levying an extension fee. The contractors want that reduced. They also want that the government should allow them to sell their quota of nine days of March during which the curfew was clamped in the state. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was the first CM in the country to seek from Centre the permission to open vends. While vends in other states have already started business, Punjab is facing problems
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More
The contractors have been asking the government to reduce the licence fee in view of the fact that their business was set to suffer. (Representational Photo)
