Police in New Delhi attempted to control large crowds queuing to enter newly reopened liquor stores on May 6.

Thousands of people have been queuing up after the government announced that liquor stores could reopen since the lockdown was implemented.

To control overcrowding in the stores, the Delhi government imposed a 70 percent tax on liquor.

In order to curb violations of social distancing norms, crowding and law and order issues during sale of liquor in the city, both the Delhi government and Delhi police enunciated several measures on Wednesday, including issuing tokens/coupons to the buyers and maintaining order in the queue with the help of barricades and marshals.

Thousands have lined up in serpentine queues since Monday when the government allowed the sale of liquor in the city in conformity with the Centre’s guidelines relaxing the national lockdown. Police personnel ware seen trying to manage the crowd outside many outlets where more than five people are not allowed at a given time. But when the tipplers did not pay heed, the policemen had to raise their sticks and bring order. Similar scenes of chaos were witnessed outside liquor shops all over the country.

To control overcrowding Delhi Government imposed a 70% additional tax on liquor called The 'special corona fee' on the sale of liquor on Monday, the first day of resale of liquor and wine in the country ever since the lockdown had been imposed. The Coronavirus cases in India today is 52,952 including 1783, deaths on Thursday.