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Vibrant boost for group liquor permits in Ahmedabad

Seventeen such group permits were issued to businessmen and professionals in the Ahmedabad in 2010-11.

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At the 69th annual conference of All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) held at Ahmedabad in February organised by prominent doctor Tejas Shah, 3,500 people consumed alcohol.

At the international conference of Indian Laminate Manufacturers Association (ILMA) hosted by Jikesh Thakkar in the city in February, 220 people drank alcohol.
Similarly, Kensville Golf & Country Club’s Munish Patell got liquor permits for 73 officials from the state’s prohibition and excise department.

These are examples of group liquor permits which the state government offered to professionals and business honchos in the city. With an aim to promote and attract business from India Inc, the state government started giving group permits in 2007.

Four years after prohibition laws were ‘softened’ for the business fraternity, the figures tell the story. In 2010-11, authorities granted 17 business and professional group liquor permits in Ahmedabad.

This was the highest in the last four years when compared with only four permits in 2009-10. In 2007-08, the number was six and in 2008-09, nine such permits were issued.

“Vibrant Gujarat Summit, where a host of business conferences were organised, was the reason behind the growth in number of permits in 2010-11. Many visitors from other states and countries participated in this summit,” said a source.

The general norm is that if somebody wants to have a group permit for consuming liquor, he or she has to organise a business conference. Details of the event, number of days for which it is going to be held, names of the participants have to be given and Rs5,000 deposited in a bank.

Tourists and business persons have claimed that prohibition in Gujarat is a major handicap. Under the Prohibition Act, anybody found possessing liquor without permit can be jailed as it is a non-bailable offence in the state.

“This is sheer hypocrisy of the government. Air passengers are allowed to carry two bottles of liquor in the state and businessmen can get permit to drink with this prohibition law in place.

I think the government wants to do away with the prohibition law but they are afraid of losing part of their vote bank,” said Dinesh Hinduja, who is against prohibition.

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