Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, other Maharashtra residents to get liquor home delivered, just like Flipkart, Amazon goods!

In a development that may excite tipplers across Maharashtra, the state government is reportedly working on a policy to allow doorstep delivery of liquor. Once approved, this policy would allow residents of big cities like Mumbai, Pune or Nagpur get liquor home delivered, just like they buy goods from e-commerce sites like Flipkart, Amazon. 

According to a Times of India report, the Maharashtra government's minister of state for excise Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said that the doorstep delivery of liquor would be a "game changer" for the liquor industry. If implemented, Maharashtra will become the first Indian state to allow such a facility. 

The minister told TOI that the objective behind the home delivery of liquor is to decrease the growing number of cases of drunken driving that kill many people throughout the year. The liquor would be delivered through platforms similar to e-commerce sites Flipkart, Amazon, and others. 

The sellers would be directed to take complete details of customers, identify them through Aadhaar numbers, to ensure the buyers qualify the required age criteria. Also, the liquor bottles would be geo-tagged to track their manufacture and sale. 

The move may generate employment as a large number of delivery boys would be required to run the doorstep delivery service. 

The move, if pursued further, may also lead to a big controversy as the Constitution directs the government to go for prohibition.