Nepalekhabar.com

Nepal’s government from Tuesday has applied one of its new policies of selling alcoholic beverage only from exclusive shops licensed by the government.

According to this new policy, groceries will not be allowed to sell alcoholic beverage. Government monitoring teams have been mobilized to make sure the new policy is applied.

The government had proposed the policy in its budgetary declaration. The new rule prescribes the time for exclusive sellers to follow—10:00 to 22:00.

However, mixed feedback has begun to come from different shop-owners and customers. Rabin Man Shrestha of Banghemudha says, “The policy sounds good, but it is difficult for us ordinary shop-owners to keep our hands and mouth together.” Referring to his investment volume, he adds, “My investment is about rupees 20,000.00 and I earn my bread by selling different items from this shop.” Shrestha questions, “How can I get bread like before?”

Likewise, a customer who buys alcoholic products from a small shop, reacts, “The government has allowed billionaires to produce and sell alcoholic drinks. Why can’t I buy from a nearby shop?”

A cold store owner at Dillibazar Ram Krishna Kandel says, “I don’t think this policy will be effectively implemented because I am sure so many grocers will sell alcoholic products underhand though they may not display them.” Kandel gives his logic, “As alcohol is the most-selling item in groceries, even customers will seek it from them instead of searching for separate alcohol houses.”

The government has also announced a policy of not allowing under-18 children to buy alcoholic products.

One has yet to wait for more clarity and impact of this policy.