HYDERABAD: Drink as much as you wish but don’t drive. Well, this is the piece of advice you will soon get from the managements of bars and restaurants, in case they find you drinking more than reasonable amounts of alcohol. What more, they may even provide you with a cab to go back home!
The state government is contemplating bringing in a rule asking restaurants to insist that such customers not drive vehicles.
“The rule might be linked to liquor licence. If a business establishment violates the rule, licence might be revoked. Notices to this effect would be issued to restaurants, hotels and bars.
However, it is in the preliminary stages,” sources told Express.
Sources said that a proposal would be tabled, according to which hotels or bars would provide alternative transport arrangements for customers, either by booking a cab or providing drivers.
Gradually, this would be made part of official rules.
“Hotels will arrange the rides. This would be linked to licence of bars and restaurants,” Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary, said.
When contacted, Akun Sabharwal, director of Telangana Prohibition and Excise department, said “It could be one of the requirements for running a liquor shop.”
A set number of pegs would be prescribed, and if a customer exceeds the number, bars or restaurants will serve the insistence. This is to bring down accidents caused by drunken driving, officials said.
As on date, Hyderabad Traffic Police conducts drunken drive checks to discourage people from driving under the influence of alcohol. While the checks have been effective to a large extent, every week people are caught for violating the rule.
MISSION SMART RIDE
A pilot project aimed at eliminating drunken driving incidents and spreading awareness about road safety was launched here with support from state government and various stakeholders. The initiative ‘Mission Smart Ride’ aims to ensure Zero DUI (driving under the influence). Telangana is the first state in the country to adopt and implement this Mission Smart Ride initiative in collaboration with various stakeholders - government, insurance companies, corporates, taxi service providers and restaurant operators to ensure Zero DUI. About 23 hotels in the city have tied up with the company and more are expected to join. The restaurant representatives will book cabs for tipsy customers. The first two rides, up to a fare of Rs 200, will be free, Nanda Kishore, CEO and founder of Mission Smart Ride, said. TRS MP K Keshava Rao launched the service at a programme here on Thursday. IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan said, “This initiative aims to eliminate DUI incidents by promoting responsible drinking habits and improve road safety.”
[[Hotels will arrange the rides. This would be linked to licence of bars and restaurants in city Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary