The Karnataka government has allowed bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants in the state to serve liquor from today with 50 per cent of their seating capacity.
There were restrictions on serving liquor since March, when the lockdown was enforced first, and until now only takeaways were allowed at these establishments.
They have been instructed to strictly follow the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Covid-19.
The order by the Excise Commissioner said such relaxations were already in place in states like Assam, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
It also cites government's revenue as one among the reasons for the decision.
The Karnataka government had in May had allowed sale of liquor through MRP outlets. This was followed by permission for bars, microbreweries, pubs and others to clear out their stocks, but in-house service was not allowed.
Though many of these establishments have welcomed the government's decision, they also have expressed apprehensions that it may take a while for the business to pick up with the pandemic situation still around.
Manager of one such bar said it will take a few days to restart the service and we are preparing for it with required stocks, we have also asked our staff, who were out without work to get back, we need to train them with safety protocols that need to be followed.
Also, the city's main markets, KR Market and Kalasipalya market that had remained shut for some time now following a spike in coronavirus cases in the city, have been allowed to start their operations from today.
Officials have said they have taken necessary precautionary measures and marshals have been deployed to check violation of norms and protocols to contain COVID-19 spread.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Karnataka Eases Covid Lockdown Restrictions In 4 Districts Weddings Held Amid Covid Lockdown In Karnataka Temple, Case Lodged Lockdown In Karnataka Extended Till June 14 Mamata Banerjee's Sunday Ultimatum To CBI For Death Penalty In Rape-Murder How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death "I Am Sorry": KTR Apologises For Remarks After Woman's Panel Begins Probe Russian Spies Were Stealing US Tech During Cold War. Then FBI Did This What Parents Of Boys Must Know About Online 'Misogynist Radicalisation' Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.