More Liquor Shops Bite The Dust In Delhi-NCR

Following a string of stringent new guidelines to keep alcohol and alcohol consumers away from public areas, the Supreme Court has now ordered that no liquor shops will be permitted within 500 metres of highways in the country. As per a verdict on 15^th December, the Delhi government conducted a survey which found that forty six liquor vends comes within 500 meters from the highways. This invariably will lead to all the said being shuttered in the Capital.

“In its survey by the excise department, 46 liquor vends were found within the range of 500 meters from the highways. As per the SC order, these vends won’t be allowed to operate after March 31,” a senior government official said.

The Supreme Court ordered that no alcohol vendor should be visible and directly accessible from the highways nor it should be situated within 500 metres of the outer edge of the national or state highway or of the service lane. This decision has been taken keeping in mind dunk driving instances and accidents caused due to the same.

In its order, the SC had noted, “The expressways witnessed 4,208 accident cases, 4,229 injured and 1,802 deaths. Figures are also available of the distribution of road accidents by causes during 2014. 1.38 lakh persons were injured in road accidents involving dangerous or careless driving and 42,127 deaths occurred.” Moreover, licenses of existing liquor shops on national and state highways will not be renewed after 31^st March.

“Injuries caused in accidents due to over-speeding stood at 1.81 lakh while there were 48,654 deaths. 7,307 accident cases involving driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol were registered resulting in 7,398 injuries and 2,591 deaths,” the bench had noted.

Earlier this month, the opposition had claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party held a rather snub attitude towards the whole issue, and went on to suggest that all liquor shops in residential areas must also be closed down, citing safety issues.

Source: The Indian Express