Popular Pubs In Delhi Lose License For A Number Of Liquor Violations

The legal drinking age in the Capital may seem practical to some but sound absurd to others. The latter often tend to go out and get high on a little poison despite the age barrier. And the worst part? A lot of pubs don’t even ask for an ID proof before filling your glass. Meanwhile, there are a number of other popular bars that are openly violating laws. But all that may change soon.

Delhi’s Excise Department has cracked down on some of these illegal practices and has suspended the license of eight popular pubs in the Capital. The authority has even lodged FIRs against the establishments for serving alcohol to underaged patrons and violating other laws related to serving liquor.

What comes as a real shocker is the fact that all of these pubs and restaurants are located in frequented posh localities and are well-known names in the party circuit.

According to officials, the defaulters are Masaba Restaurant in Punjabi Bagh, Ministry of Beer in Connaught Place, My Bar Grill in Hauz Khas, Lithiyum Restaurant in Ashoka Hotel in Chanakyapuri, and three other restaurants in Rajouri Garden – Cafe Cruise, Game of Legend Too Indian.

These pubs have violated a bunch of laws including serving liquor to underage persons, some without license, Non Duty Paid Liquor (NDPL), outside permitted area and even giving out expired beer!

Raids were conducted on 43 restaurants in all, from the time period of June 1 to 31 July, and eight were found violating laws. “A meeting was convened by LG Anil Baijal in April where he said eateries contravening laws regarding liquor must be dealt with very sternly,” an officer was quoted by India Today.

Of late, liquor laws have become stringent and defaulters have been facing severer penalty than before. Earlier this year, a number of state governments – including the ones in Delhi-NCR – banned the sale of alcohol within a 500 meter motorable range of national and state highways; and consuming alcohol in public places. And while the directive led to a lot of mayhem, the government stood firm in its belief that the move will significantly reduce the number of drunk driving accidents.