Govt backtracks; ‘ON’ Shops not to sell Liquor till 1:30 AM during HWC 2018

ONI Bureau: Under fire from intelligentsia, civil society groups and NGOs who vehemently protested against the Government’s decision to open ‘ON’ Shop liquor outlets in Bhubaneswar till 1:30 AM during the Hockey World Cup 2018, the Odisha Government has reversed its decision, calling it an “inadvertent error”.

Excise minister Sashi Bhusan Behera clarified that the only Hotels and Bars can serve liquor till 1:30 AM and ‘ON’ Shops won’t be allowed to open till that period. A revised notification was issued this afternoon.

The ‘ON’ Shops can sell liquor till 10:30 AM as per the existing norms.