PANJIM: Thousands of people in the State are estimated to lose their jobs due to the Supreme Court ban on the sale of liquor within 500 meters of National and State Highways.
The State is also on the verge of losing the bulk of its revenue coming from liquor sale. The State economy, which is reeling under the aftermath of the mining ban, too will take a hit of hundreds of crores of rupees.
The SC last Friday ruled that its December 15, 2016 order banning liquor vends across National and State highways is applicable to hotels and restaurants. The liquor vend owners, employed helpers, store keepers, drivers and salesmen to manage the business have been rendered jobless.
Also hit are hoteliers, restaurant and bar owners whose sales have come down by 50 percent after the ban.
With the ban on serving liquor in commercial establishments in the State coming into effect from Saturday, hotel and restaurant owners have raised concern over the likely layoff of employees and estimated the monthly losses at hundreds of crores of rupees. Most of these establishments are located along National and State highways.
“There are outlets which have a monthly sale of Rs 50 lakh and then there are smaller ones with a sale of
Rs 5 lakh. The sales will go down by half. Those who invested crores are left with no option now,” said Anant Shirodkar, a Bar n Restaurant owner.
Sandeep Naik, of Mapusa, says the estimated dip in their sales will be in lakhs. He said many of their employees come from neighbouring states like Karnataka, Maharashtra and so also from Nepal. If they lose job, their families will suffer, he said.
“They have not been able to curb drunken driving and now they are banning liquor. If incidents of snatching do not stop, will they ask women to stop wearing jewellery?” asked Naik.
The Excise Department said it will be hard to calculate losses as of now since a number of outlets will relocate to places where the ban will not be effective. “It will be difficult to zero in on the losses as of now since a number of outlets will relocate to places where the ban will not be effective. The actual loss can be calculated only later,” said an Excise official.
