THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/CHANDIGARH: Liquor has slipped past the lockdown net in Kerala and Punjab, thanks to the trickledown effect of classifying beverages of all types as “essential” items.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday cited the "peculiar" situation arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic and a purported tweet by his Punjab counterpart, Capt Amarinder Singh, to justify the state government's decision to keep liquor flowing amid the lockdown.

"I have with me a message from the Punjab chief minister. I will read it for you…All essential services will continue (there). He explains what these essential services and commodities are — groceries, liquor...the list goes on," he said.

Asked what made the government think alcoholic beverages could be listed as an essential item, Vijayan said, "The peculiar situation prevailing in the state demands such a measure."

A spokesperson for the Punjab government confirmed that liquor shops would be allowed to operate during the lockdown till March 31, but denied that CM Amarinder had mentioned it in any tweet. A notification issued by the state government on Saturday mentions "beverages" in the list of exemptions alongside groceries, fresh fruits, vegetables, drinking water and fodder.

In Kerala, shops selling "essential" items will be open from 7am to 5pm except in Kasaragod, which had reported 38 confirmed Covid-19 cases till Monday. Shop timings there will be 11pm to 5pm.

CM Vijayan said bars won't be allowed to open during the lockdown because that would defeat the objective of social distancing. "We will ensure stricter measures so that social distancing norms are strictly followed," he said.

The state government claimed to have received an intelligence report last week that warned of serious consequences, including bootlegging, if legitimate sale of liquor were to be stopped.

Pictures of customers maintaining a safe distance of a few metres from each other while queuing up outside liquor outlets in Kerala have been doing the rounds ever since social distancing became part of the anti-coronavirus lexicon. Duties on liquor fetch the state exchequer around Rs 2,500 crore annually, accounting for 15% of its revenue.