Tipplers beware. Consuming alcohol in public places and on roads may soon attract stringent punishment. The government has also decided to close down belt shops immediately. The Cabinet on Tuesday took the decision following stiff resistance and complaints from public lodged through Parishakara vedika /Real Time Governance (RTG). The government conducted a survey through the RTG on recently announced liquor and bar policy. About 45% people disapproved of it and objected to liquor shops in residential areas. Varied complaints and suggestions were received by the government. Some of the respondents suggested that liquor shops be pushed out of the city or village limits.
A special place for sale of liquor has to be earmarked on the lines of cracker bazaars like in Deepavali. All liquor shops can be located there so that the residents would not face any hardships. Use of name of gods for liquor shops was also objected to.
Traffic snarls and accidents was another problem highlighted by the respondents. Following which, the Cabinet has urged the licence holders to desist from use of gods’ names. The Cabinet also discussed the possibility of allowing only licence number or shop number instead names for shops. However, a decision was not taken.
