Penalty for drunk driving: Bar owners feel the pinch in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: Hefty penal provisions towards traffic violations, especially Rs 10,000 fine and possible arrest for drunken driving under the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act has pressed the panic button among alcohol consumers in Bhubaneswar. The effect is better felt by none other than the bar owners, who have witnessed a drastic drop in the footfall of customers since the implementation of the new Act from September 1.
According to the new MV rules, the first offence of drunk driving will be up to six months of a jail term or with Rs 10,000 fine or both. For repeat offence, the imprisonment will be up to two years or with a fine of Rs 15,000 or both. Police sources said of the total 5,315 persons, who were killed in road accidents in Odisha last year, at least 35 per cent of those mishaps occurred due to drunk driving. Post-mortem reports of the deceased indicated the presence of high level of alcohol in the blood beyond the permissible limit. Police, quoting the Motor Vehicles Act, said the permissible blood alcohol content (BAC) is fixed at 0.03 per cent per 100ml blood.
“I have lost at least 50 per cent customers in the last two days. While not less than 150 people were coming to my bar on a normal day, the footfall has come down to only 60-70 customers. Unlike previous days, I don’t see a rush of people in the bar in evening, the peak business hour,” said Sambit Rautray, manager of a bar in Laxmisagar area.
Satya Mohanty, secretary of Bar and Restaurant Association of Odisha (BARAO), apprehends heavy loss in business due to the steep penal provision. “We will be forced to wind up our business if people stop visiting bars for fear of police crackdowns on roads (during drive). We are paying a heavy tax to the government. If customers avoid bars, we will turn bankrupt,” Mohanty said. BARAO said their members would soon hold a meeting and chalk out a measure to address the issue.
At least 532 bars-cum-restaurants as well as hotels having bars, 95 beer parlours and 18 private clubs having bars operate in Odisha. Bhubaneswar is having at least 63 bars-cum-restaurants, 42 hotels and clubs with bars and 14 beer parlours. “We cannot go against the government’s decision to impose a hefty fine on drunken drivers. Almost all customers drive or bike on their own to bars. Since most bars are visited by middle-class consumers, they cannot afford a taxi to pick and drop. Unlike star hotels, we cannot arrange pick up and drop service for customers, who will not be eager to pay for the transport facility,” Prasana Pradhan, another bar manager said.
Liquor counters, however, have not been affected by the introduction of hefty penalty on drunken drivers. Most liquor shop owners said people only purchase bottles from counters and consume elsewhere.
Police said they also felt the fear among motorists. “We were penalizing at least 15 drunken drivers on any given day before September 1. In the last two days, we have come across only five drunken drivers, each of whom was slapped with Rs 10,000 fine. Consumption of liquor in public places too has come down,” a traffic sub-inspector said.