Keeping in view tourism interests , the State Excise Department is thinking of extending the hours of bars and restaurants in luxury hotels to 2 a.m. from the present 11.30 p.m.
Excise Minister M.P. Renukacharya told presspersons here on Saturday that there was a demand from tourist and star hotels located in Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Mangalore and other cities of the State to extend the hours of bars and restaurants. Since business delegations and tourists visits cities of the State and stay in luxury hotels, the extended time would fetch more revenue to the department.
However, a final decision would be taken in consultation with Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa and the Home Department.
A proposal was before the department to extend the hours of other bars and restaurants located in the State, he said.
The Government had ruled out providing compensation to the next of kin of those who lose their lives in illicit liquor tragedies. Consumption of illicit liquor was banned and there was no ground for providing compensation to families of the persons who died due to consumption of illicit liquor, he said.
During the recent gram panchayat elections, six people died in Chickballapur district due to consumption of illicit liquor.
The Minister said 753 cases were registered in the State relating to unauthorised sale of liquor during the two-phase panchayat elections.
Bangalore Division topped the list with 155 cases. The police had arrested 398 people.
A total of 82 cases had been registered in Belgaum district, 53 in Gulbarga district, 119 in Hospet taluk, and 75 in Mangalore taluk. Nearly 4,600 litres of illegally stored liquor had been seized during the two-phase panchayat campaign, he said.
Mr. Renukacharya said the department collected revenue of Rs. 7,500 crore through sale of liquor in 2009-10.
In April this year, the revenue collection from eExcise rose by 24 per cent to Rs. 567 crore from Rs. 454 crore in April last year.
The Minister said the Chaitayananda Trust of Davangere had adopted a five-year-old boy, who was addicted to liquor.
The boy had been de-addicted and the trust assured him of providing free education to the boy till X standard.
