In a first, the Delhi Government will embark upon an advertisement-based sensitisation campaign to ensure that Delhiites drink responsibly this holiday season.
According to a senior Government official, the Excise Department is in the final stages of preparing the said campaign – consisting of posters, hoardings and infomercials promoting the concept of ‘responsible drinking’ – well in time before Christmas.
It is a proactive stance towards promoting moderation in drinking among Delhiites for the first time. Till now, the Department’s efforts in this direction had been limited to making routine appeals to bars, pubs and restaurants to serve customers liquor ‘in moderation’ in the interest of their safety and wellbeing on New Year’s Eve.
“We will put up posters and public appeals both outside and inside liquor vends as well as in bars and pubs requesting Delhiites to drink responsibly,” a senior Excise official told The Hindu adding that the campaign was scheduled to be publicised soon.
Apart from public places, the advertisements will also be published in newspapers as public notifications, an official said, exploring the possibility of creating catchy radio jingles for the purpose.
A source said the Department was also mulling asking the staff manning liquor vends to issue advice on avoiding drinking in public and drink driving to customers purchasing alcohol from them between December 25 and December 31.
“Apart from advertising, we have also asked the management of such establishments to keep an eye on the condition of their customers post service. This is to ensure that those visibly above the permissible drinking limit to drive are requested, on our behalf, to call a cab for the ride home in the interest of their own safety,” the official said.
