Pune: Over 10,000 people apply for e-token required for buying liquor

Pune, May 13, 2020: On Tuesday, the first day after the state excise department launched the e-token system for the purchase of liquor, 10,877 Punekars registered for the online token. People have to register on the website mahaexcise.com.

People will be relieved from the hassle of standing in line and buying liquor in the sun. The experiment started in Pune on Tuesday. The project has received a good response in Pune. On the first day alone, more than 10,000 citizens have registered and bought liquor. The concerned staffs have been instructed to ensure the smooth operation of the website, said Santosh Zagade, Superintendent, State Excise Department.

The state government has permitted to start liquor shops from May 5. Accordingly, the municipal corporation and the police have allowed liquor shops to open between 10 am and 6 pm. However, the state excise department suggested e-token as there were huge queues in many places.

To get e-token for liquor purchase, the customer has to register on mahaexcise.com This will include his/her name, address, mobile number, type of liquor, etc. The list of liquor stores near the customer’s home will then be displayed according to the Pincode of the home address. The customer would select the nearest shop. Slots of half an hour are fixed when clicked on it. The customer has to select the slot. This will create a digital e-token. After that, the customer would go to the shop as per given time, show the e-token and he will get the type of liquor he wants without waiting in line. At least 25-30 people can get alcohol in each half-hour slot.

If successful in Pune, the state excise department intends to implement it in the state, informed Superintendent Zagade. The e-token will save the customer time standing in line. It will also help enforce Coronavirus lockdown rules on social distancing. In the past, some shopkeepers in the city had started the token system to avoid crowds. However, the new method will apply to all shops in Pune.

The liquor store was closed due to a lockdown caused by the corona. The bars are still closed. But controlling the crowds when the shops opened was a headache for shopkeepers. Police security was also provided for that. In some places, teachers were assigned to control the crowds. The duty of teachers has been cancelled after there was a news report about the difficulties they faced.