Mangalore: Restrictions on Liquor at Ceremonies Dampen 'Spirits'
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SB)
Mangalore, Oct 29: If administration has its way soon booze at posh parties in public places like halls, clubs and open grounds including weddings and other private celebrations will make its way out making it a 'dry' affair or if at all celebrations with liquor is organized it will be a tedious and an expensive affair.
Curb on Free Liquor at Celebration
Though there is a law in place imposing restrictions on serving liquor at public places under Karnataka Excise Act 1965, the administration had not strictly enforced the restrictions. However, as a rude shocker to all those for whom celebration is incomplete without liquor, the district excise authorities have issued notice last week to the hall management and people concerned not to permit consumption of liquor for all. In its notice it has ordered the hall management and people concerned to permit usage of liquor only to those who have been granted a license by the excise commissioner or deputy commissioner.
Further, it has warned the hall management and people concerned to inform the party booking the hall or space for celebration about the same and also issue no objection certificate (NOC) for license for liquor consumption during celebration, which in turn should be handed over to the excise commissioner. If halls and people concerned do not follow the instructions, the excise authorities have warned that they too will be held equally liable for breaking the law.
The party also has to obtain NOC from police station under which the hall or the space for celebration is situated, state excise authorities. The authorities have also informed that a minimum of 15 days are required to obtain the license and once the license is obtained, the party has to forward a copy of the same to the office of the hall or people concerned.
From Horse’s Mouth
Speaking exclusively to Daijiworld, George Pinto, superintendent of Excise, Dakshina Kannada district, who is also in-charge of Mangalore division that comprises five districts said that on failure to follow the instructions, punishment under the Rule 32 that leads to an arrest on issue of order by the court and fine up to Rs 5,000 will be accorded. Both hall administration and party organizers will be held responsible for such acts and will be punishable under the law, he said.
Pinto said that, "The state government has strictly ordered us to monitor parties at public places where liquor is served. Anyone who wants to serve liquor during genuine celebrations like wedding, anniversaries and the like should apply for the license at the excise office near Maryhill, Yeyyadi at least 15 days prior to the function. Further, they also have to obtain NOC from local police station and concerned hall or space, where party is scheduled to be held. A fee of Rs 10,000 as license fee and an additional 15 per cent of cess on the fee amounting to Rs 1,500 fee will be levied on party organisers. Thereafter, the local excise authority will send the request to Bangalore and obtain the permission within 15 days. Finally, district administration office in Mangalore will issue the license" he clarified.
When queried as to why the strict enforcement of the act in Mangalore now for it was not strictly imposed in the last 44 years of its existence, Pinto said that the consumption of liquor at the public places have gone out of control in the recent years which has led to public nuisance as well as violence many a times. Also it has come to the notice of the department that heavy supply of liquor from Goa is flowing illegally to the city by which revenue to excise department has been badly affected, he added.
Home Ministry’s Pressure
However, Daijiworld from reliable sources has learnt that a couple of months back at the posh wedding celebrations of the son of a former politician in a city hall, the liquor was served in the vehicles on the ground on a dry day, which further led to a confrontation with police officials. A TV channel which caught the incident on camera telecast the incident repeatedly and state home ministry that noticed the incident asked local authority to probe into the incident and ordered to put strict curb on liquor consumption at public places.
Parties Affected
Following the notice, halls books for the celebrations in the past week have either been cancelled at the last moment or shifted to hotel premises. Hotel apartments that possess boarding and lodging license and licensed clubs will not come under above curb as such premises can serve liquor without further license.
The month of December - January is the busiest season for weddings, anniversaries and other private programmes. For the period in general the halls around the city are booked at least a year in advance. In most of such parties the liquor is being served. The sudden curb to the effect might cause inconvenience not only to the organizers, but also management looking over the administration of the hall as they might face cancellation of booking.
However, hotel apartments and licensed are allowed to serve liquor without any problem and thus it is expected that the clubs will flourish and hotel business will boom this season.