From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Aug 2: Karnataka’s Excise Minister H Y Meti has a new and perhaps novel justification for extension of night life in the pub city of Bengaluru till 1 pm throughout the week.

Strongly defending the State Government’s decision to extend night life till 1 am in Bengaluru, the minister claimed that drunken people are more disciplined in the City and do not sleep on roadside footpaths unlike their counterparts in the villages.

Responding to questions from reporters on the Excise Department’s grant of permission to allow bars and pubs to open till 1 am, he said “the drunken people found sleeping on roadside footpaths is common in villages. But in Bengaluru, the people are educated and don’t sleep on footpaths after consuming alcohol.”

It is evidently time for all boozers in Bengaluru to raise a toast to the new Excise Minister for his stout support for their drinking habits.

Ruling out imposition of prohibition in the State, he said the department would take necessary and stringent steps to stop sale of illicit liquor in villages.

He made it clear that no fresh licences would be issued to open new bars and restaurants.

However, State-owned Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) would be allowed to open retail outlets if needed, he said.

Appealing to the people not to consume liquor which would spoil their families, Meti said to prevent cheating of consumers, retail outlets have been instructed to put out a list of prices of various brands in their shops.

A few days ago in Kolar, Health and Family Welfare Minister K R Ramesh Kumar had asked officials to “take necessary and stringent steps to stop sale of liquor in villages even if it causes fall in the revenue to the government.”