A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court recently suggested a ban on sale of liquor till 5 pm, as drinking during working hours was on the rise and had subsequently also led to alcoholism in many cases.
Bangalore is known as the pub city and pub and bar owners reveal that on weekdays, teenagers spend anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 1000 on alcohol, while on weekends they spend around Rs 3000 to Rs 3,500.
In fact, a survey conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in 2011 revealed that over 50 per cent of regular alcohol users fall into the category of hazardous drinking, and the use of alcohol was increasing disproportionately in younger age groups.
Further, nearly one-third of night road traffic injuries and deaths are attributed to alcohol use and about onefourth of violence and other forms of abuse against women and children were linked to chronic alcohol use.
Pub owners and staff agree to the fact that applying such a rule in Bangalore would mean a huge loss.
Marco, working with a bar and restaurant in Koramangala says, “Almost 30 per cent of youngsters flock this place during morning and afternoon.
Bringing such a rule would be a big setback to our regular business.
” Voicing a similar opinion, Nandish, who runs a bar and restaurant on Brigade Road says, “Although the major business hours is during evening, we get about 20-30 per cent customers from 11 am to 5 pm.
Elangovan MD, an entrepreneur, who runs a pub near Brigade Road says, “Recently a survey revealed that Kerala was top in the list in consumption of liquor compared to other drinking states in India.
We stand in the fourth or fifth place.
So, shutting down sale of liquor between official hours will not serve any purpose.
We have maintained strict rules when it comes to allowing people inside our pub.
Only adults above 21 years are allowed.” Anand, an owner of a wine counter in Koramangla says, “It will not make any big difference to my business as youngsters opt for posh pubs to sit during college hours.
Wine shops like ours mainly cater to lower middle class people and daily wage labourers.” As far as check on alcohol consumption during day time is concerned, nothing specific is being done in this regard by the Police Department.
Additional Commissioner of Traffic, M A Saleem points out, “If there is an accident, irrespective of the timings, we check if it was influenced by alcohol.
In case of suspicious driving too, we subject them to checking.” On the other hand, Higherpower Foundation, a rehab centre for alcohol feels that peer pressure is to be blamed.
The foundation informed that they come across people in the age group of 15-60 years with a drinking problem and among them, the majority are in the age ranging from 15 to 25 years.
Moreover, habitual drinkers usually don't look at time to consume alcohol as they start early morning and go on.
However, they agree that by shutting down liquor sales from 10 am to 5 pm will definitely help the college students as they will be back in the classrooms on a regular basis.
