Indore: Get licence before planning a booze party for New Year

Before inviting friends and colleagues for booze on New Year bash, make sure you obtain licence from excise department, else uninvited guests in the form of excise officials may play spoilsport.

Before inviting friends and colleagues for booze on New Year bash, make sure you obtain licence from excise department, else uninvited guests in the form of excise officials may play spoilsport.

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According to officials in excise department, one has to obtain FL-5 licence before hosting a booze party at restaurants, cafés, lawns and it is even applicable for individuals who do not have liquor licence.

"We have informed hotels, restaurants and clubs to obtain a FL-5 licences if they wish to throw a party where liquor will be served on any specific day," said Sanjay Tiwari, assistant commissioner of excise.

In the year 2012, 35 people had obtained the license, and 42 licenses were issued in the year 2013. It is expected that number of FL-5 licences that will be issued this year will overshoot the numbers of previous years, said the official.

Sensing craze among youngsters for pubbing and partying on New Year Eve, many restaurants and cafés in the city, which normally do not serve liquor, are planning to host New Year celebrations on December 31. The FL-5 licence is priced at Rs 2,000 for commercial purpose and Rs 1,000 for individuals per day.

According to the data available with the excise department, the consumption of alcohol in Indore in both foreign and country liquor categories have been increasing year on year. The data reveals that the consumption of country-made liquor increases in December in last two years, whereas consumption of foreign liquor has gone down a bit.