BENGALURU:Ban on the sale of liquor in BBMP limits owing to the polls left several revellers disappointed during the weekend. The ban was in effect from Thursday to Saturday.
However, excise officials said that the effect on sale was only marginal.
A representative of Purple Haze in the city told Express that though business was affected, the liquor ban on polling day was essential.
“We are open round the year and polls come only once in three or five years. Therefore, it does not affect us much. Since it was a weekend, the time when we have more customers, our business was slightly less,” he said.
Besides, people should go out and vote during the day rather than sit in a pub, he added.
A representative of Flame Pub and Restaurant said that sales were hit due to the ban. “Since it is a law and order issue, we cannot do much, but obey. Measures like these help prevent political violence,” he said.
Stocking Up
Mohan Kumar L N, Joint Commissioner of Excise, Bengaluru, said there would be a marginal variation in sales figures due to the polls. “People who drink regularly would have bought liquor beforehand,” he said. The weekend crowd, however, might have been disappointed.
When asked about the business lost, he said the department compiles data once a month and data on particular days is unavailable. The data is based on the amount of liquor lifted from warehouses, he added.