109 held in crackdown on public drinking

If you are planning on a “car-o-bar” or drinking at public places in Gurgaon, beware.

If you are planning on a “car-o-bar” or drinking at public places in Gurgaon, beware.

Gurgaon, India - 26 June 2014: MCG send notice to Liquor shop and Ahata running in MCG area , in Gurgaon, India, on Thursday, 26 June, 2014. (Photo by Manoj Kumar/Hindustan Times)

In a crackdown during the weekend, police arrested 109 people on Saturday for consuming alcohol at public places across the city. The operation was initiated following several complaints that consumption of alcohol at public places was causing inconvenience to the masses, especially women.

Gurgaon has a large number of liquor shops and vends. Buying alcohol from these shops and drinking in the vicinity in parked cars or outside has become a routine.

Police carry out regular checks and arrest on an average at least 10 people every day for public drinking but crackdown on a large scale was not undertaken in the last one year.

“There were complaints that drinking at public places was causing nuisance. A drive was carried out across the city and it will be repeated at regular intervals. Routine checks will go on,” Sandeep Khirwar, commissioner of police, Gurgaon, said.

The police arrested violaters from areas near upscale localities, including CyberHub, Molsary road, Sector 29 market, Sector 56, DLF Phase 1, Sushant Lok 1, Rapid Metro stations and MG Road.

Police said the excise and taxation department has to keep a check on public drinking near liquor vends and shops.

A senior excise official, requesting anonymity, said the teams of the department often conduct inspections and inform police about drinking in public places.

Those accused of drinking in public are booked under section 68/1/14 of the Excise Act. The offence is punishable with a fine or imprisonment of up to three months. Majority of the accused are released on bail at the police station level.

Liquor shops in Gurgaon:

2016-17: 323 liquor vends and shops -- 175 selling Indian-made foreign liquor and 148 selling country liquor

2015-16: 319 liquor vends and shops -- 172 selling Indian-made foreign liquor and 147 selling country liquor