No liquor sans permit at pubs, bars: Excise SP

Nagpur: The state excise department’s Nagpur SP Surendra Manpiya, who addressed a meeting of pub and bar owners a day ago, on Friday said that liquor would be served only to permit holders. Violators would be dealt with sternly, Manpiya warned.
Bar and pub owners have been instructed to follow prohibition norms while serving liquor to customers under 25 years of age. They have also been instructed to put up boards stating the norms at their entrance of their establishments.
“There will be more surprise checks than before. Though many places have boards mentioning norms displayed outside their establishments, the rules need to be followed more stringently,” said Manpiya.
The city has witnessed repeated brawls, fracas and ruckus at various pubs in the last couple of weeks tarnishing the image of night life. Videos of ugly incidents kept social media abuzz with criticism.
In the backdrop of growing criticism against night life deteriorating law and order, city police chief Amitesh Kumar issued a 28-point notification under the criminal procedure code 144 regulating norms for customers and management of pubs and bars.
Meanwhile, sources said that excise officials have also raised objections regarding some bars and pubs permitting more customers than the limit sanctioned by the department.
Some industry insiders, like Harish Gawai, who runs ‘The Cafe Barrel’ at Dharampeth, welcomed guidelines from the CP and excise SP. He backed their vision of regulations but expressed a few concerns.
Full report on www.toi.in