Should We Have Home Bars?

  •   Sat, Mar 25 2023
  •   By John B Monteiro

March 25, 2023

“Increasing the sale of liquor may benefit the government in terms of revenue. But liquor is a social evil, and its biggest victims are women and their children.” - Sudha Murthy (b.1950) an Indian educator, author and philanthropist who is chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. She is married to the co-founder of Infosys, N. R. Narayana Murthy. Her daughter Akshatha Murthy is married to the current Prime Minister of UK - Rishi Sunak.

Sudha talks about drinking in the context of a person having to go to a bar to drink or buy drinks in a liquor store, bring it home and drink in the midst of other members of the family – alarming or scandalising them. There is also risk of under-aged children secretly raiding the bar.

Now we are moving one step further – setting up a bar at home itself as per an article titled “Uttarkhand says cheers to home bar licence’ by Narendra Sethi and published in the March 24 issue of The New Indian Express and excerpted here.

In a move that could cheer up liquor lovers, the Uttarakhand government has amended its excise policy to allow residents of the state to open ‘authorised personal bars’ in their homes – for a fee.

Permit holders will be able to stock up to 60 litres of English liquor (whisky, imported and Indian scotch, beer) equivalent to 80 bottles at their home bars against 9 litres (12 bottles) now, excise secretary Harichandra Semwal told TNIE.

An annual fee of Rs 12,000 will have to be paid for the licence. Besides, the excise department will collect an amount of Rs 50,000 as guarantee at the time of applying for the personal bar permit.

Only those who have been regularly filing income tax returns (for at least the past five years) will be able to apply. Applications will have to be submitted online and approved by the district magistrate.
The licence comes with a set of conditions, though.

The licencee can keep only the liquor meant for civilian use. Action will be taken if the liquor is obtained from military canteens or other states. The licence terms also stipulate that young men or women below the age of 21 years should not be allowed entry to the personal bar premises.

There are set limits for separate types of liquor that can be kept at individual bars. According to the terms and conditions, alcohol made in India and Indian Scotch cannot exceed nine litres each. In the case of imported liquor, the limit is 18 litres (two boxes). Only one box of wine can be kept in a licenced home bar, while the maximum allowed quantity of beer is 15.6 litres.

The subject is open to many views. What are yours? Your response in the format given below (Pl scroll down a bit) is welcome.

 

 

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By John B Monteiro
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Comment on this article

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, Mar 31 2023

    My question is why should we have bars?Its normal in cold countries men do have alcohol at home .Even women too make use of it .It is not a scandal suppose one takes a drink of light wein or men take a drink during their meals or festivity.Whereas when one takes more than necessary then it is becomes a habit and not easy to give off.In India I dont find a need to have bar at home (Only for show case ?)Instead of sitting at the bar with a glas of whisky or other alcohol kindly spend your time with family either to play with your child,or wife to help .They will be more happy to be with that and a good example even to your children.Children will nourish this memory long after your parents are no more.Same when a part of parent drinks and drinks ,starts to torkle somewhere ,talk what not normal is ,abuse and starts a fight ,in which someone either hits or shoot .and the result is one of them falls dead.Do we want that ?Doesnt happen you mean ?Of course it has happened in thousand houses .Peace is no more.So better peace is better than a Bar at home. with bottles .


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