In an attempt to reduce underage drinking, the excise department officials are conducting surprise checks across bars and restaurants, and will counsel any individual found offering drinks to friends and relatives under the age of 25. Customers caught doing the same would also have to submit written undertakings and establishments offering liquor to underage individuals would anyway have to either pay a fine or an FIR will be registered against them. The licenses of these restaurants could also be suspended.
During recent raids in areas like Punjabi Bagh, Rajouri Garden and Pitampura, FIRs have been lodged against seven outlets, five out of whose licenses have already been suspended.
While there is a law in place prohibiting store and resto-bar owners from offering liquor to underage citizens, the excise department’s latest move is a subtle way of dissuading third parties from doing the same. We couldn’t think of a more awkward situation than having an excise department official counselling us through an entire evening and would like to avoid such a circumstance at all costs. This is precisely what the Delhi government’s aiming at through their relatively gentle approach but only time will tell how effective it proves to be.
We first read about it here.
