Bottle shops bringing in big business amid new shutdown

When country bottle shop manager George Eleftheriou opens his doors every day at 9am, he's quickly greeted with his first drive-through customer.

"Early in the day, a bit more beer and then later on, the wine sales come in," Mr Eleftheriou said.

Business has more than doubled at Orange Cellars in the last two weeks.

Demand for drive-through liquor began ramping up when the new restrictions on trading came into force at midday on Monday, forcing the temporary closure of bars at clubs and pubs.

"It's been a lot busier," he said.

"People are stocking up more in case things go to the next stage of us shutting as well."

Mr Eleftheriou is staying positive, saying he's "one of the lucky ones" that hasn't shut up shop because of the impacts of COVID-19.

The bottle-o has stocked up on a wide range of alcohol in case breweries press pause on their operations.

The business has also started doing deliveries in Orange due to the increase in sales.

"People are buying more than they normally would, and they aren't leaving their house as often," he said.

"That's the biggest change we've seen.

"We've noticed an increase in people staying in their car, which is great. We just bring the EFTPOS over to them."

But even as drivers stay in their vehicle, hygiene standards are just as strict with staff pumping out hand sanitiser to all customers on arrival and cleaning surfaces throughout the day.

Mr Eleftheriou said customers can also rest assured there won't be any price-gouging.

"No prices will go up or anything silly like that. We'll just go as normal."