After Bev Q, the much-awaited virtual queue management app for liquor sale in Kerala, received Google's nod, Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) outlets will start functioning from May 28, Thursday, Malayala Manorama reported. The app will hit the PlayStore by Wednesday noon. With the app, owned by the Beverages Corporation (BEVCO), users will be able to make online bookings and get virtual tokens in the app, using which liquor could be purchased from the prescribed outlet or bars. Manorama reported that users needed to input just the mobile number and pin code. The app can service 4.8 lakh tokens in a day.
Those who make bookings through the SMS method will receive the token code as a text message. This code also should be checked by the licence holder with his app before the sales. The consumer can select the brand at the outlet and make the payment.
Customers who place orders through the virtual queue app will receive a token with a QR code on their mobile phone. The bar licensee has to verify this e-token with another app and sell the liquor to the customer.
One can buy maximum three litres of liquor.
Google had given the nod for Bev Q app on Tuesday. Liquor sales in Kerala through the Bev Q app had hit a wobbly terrain ahead of its planned listing on Google PlayStore. Faircode, the Kochi-based company that developed the app, had been unable to get the nod from Google for its launch despite repeated attempts, according to reports.
Some officials had tagged the blame for the delay on the technical committee that oversaw the selection of the company had not done due diligence. The security of the app is audited according to the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) standards, an online community that sets methodologies for web application security globally. Faircode had been reportedly unable to comply with 10 key regulations of OWASP, including how it can safeguard against hacking attempts. The load test too was a failure.
The app was submitted for listing on Google on Monday, May 18 evening. The Kerala government had decided to develop the app to avoid overcrowding for the purchase of liquor as the fourth phase of lockdown eased norms. As many as 551 bars and 260 beer and wine parlours had given consent letter to state-run Beverages Corporation (BEVCO), to sell alcohol as takeaways.
-Inputs from Onmanorama