139 bars to reopen today

LDF government’s new liquor policy will come into force today

As many as 139 bars will reopen on Sunday once the new excise policy of the Left Democratic Front government comes into force on Saturday.

The bars will remain open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and in tourism zones, they will function from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The bars were shut down following a change in the excise policy of the previous United Democratic Front government.

The change in policy had drawn flak as scores of workers who were employed in the bars were rendered jobless and it was also deemed as the prime reason for the drubbing the front received in the previous Assembly elections.

Policy reversal

The LDF government, in line with the commitment given in its election manifesto, reversed the policy and decided to open the bars in classified hotels in three-star and above categories.

The policy had also specified to serve liquor in star hotels as part of the government initiative to protect the industry and decided to float a toddy board too. The LDF that lays accent on abstinence than total ban has raised the minimum age for liquor consumption from 21 to 23 years.

Debilitating impact of the previous government’s excise policy on the tourist sector and rise in drug trade were some of the reasons that prompted the government to revise its policy.

Church protest

Different denominations of the Church had registered its protest against the policy, but the government said that it was honouring the commitment in its election manifesto and resolved to go ahead.