The news that liquor stores were reopened on Friday (17) came as a surprise to both those who consume alcohol and those who do not. 2,000 allowance to survive during the travel restrictions before flocking to liquor stores in what he called were queues that extended 1.5 km. Data from different sources indicates that alcohol consumption among Sri Lankans is actually fluctuating, with no significant increase or decrease. While alcohol consumption had increased from 2.6 litres per annum in 2005 to 4.3 litres per annum in 2016, it had declined to 4.1 litres per annum by 2018. It is also a fallacy that people have sufficient disposable income and hence need no additional allowance or relief from the Government simply because the queues outside liquor stores on one day were lengthy.

Source: The Nation September 19, 2021 18:00 UTC