NEW DELHI : Even as the government gave relief to several industries during the extended lockdown which began from today and will run till May 3, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) today asked district magistrates across India to enforce a strict ban on sale of liquor, gutka and tobacco products. "There should be strict ban on sale of liquor, gutka, tobacco, etc and spitting should be strictly prohibited," reads the national directives for Covid-19 management.
The MHA said these directives shall be enforced by the district magistrate through fines and penal action as prescribed in the Disaster Management Act 2005.
Ever since the nationwide lockdown began from March 25 in the first phase, liquor shops were shut down as part of measures to