Establishments Near Highways In Maharashtra Won’t Be Serving Booze This New Year’s Eve

Were you planning to have your New Year’s Eve party in a restaurant or bar near a highway in Maharashtra? Well, here’s a heads up; they won’t be able to serve any booze. The Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra state government not to issue liquor permits to hotels, restaurants and bars within 500 metres of national and state highways.

New Year’s Eve Events Take The Hit

The excise department commissioner, V Radha said “As per the SC order, bars and pubs located within a 500-m radius of state and national highways won’t be granted the FL-4 licence for the New Year party.”

These establishments include top hotels like The Orchid, the Sahara Star and the Hyatt Regency. While these hotels have licences to serve alcohol inside their restaurants, they have been denied permits to serve drinks elsewhere (such as on the roof or by the pool) for New Year’s Eve.

The Highway Liquor Ban

This follows a directive from the Supreme Court which banned the sale of liquor on and within a 500 metre radius of state and national highways last week. The Justices involved in the directive believed it would reduce drunk driving on highways, especially amongst truckers.

Approximately 726 wines shops as well as 7,486 restaurants and bars will be affected by April 1^st which is the deadline to shut down liquor sales near highways.