Motto for today: Ring in the New Year responsibly

There is safety in numbers, don’t roam alone
This New Year’s Eve is very special occasion for me, since I plan to celebrate it with my fiance. We are going to Lonavala and Khandala, which is not very far from Mumbai. The ambience at both locales is beautiful. We have selected this place deliberately, since it won’t be so crowded. Both of us have promised to each other that we will not drink alcohol. Moreover, we will move around in a group, since most revellers may be tipsy and resort to misdemeanours, in the festive mood. We have booked a holiday resort well in advance, to avoid any confusion, since many visit hill stations during this time of the year.
—Rima Kale

Terrace parties mean no security hassle
Last year, there was a molestation attempt reported which makes one think about the safety and security aspect for women in the city. However, celebrations will continue as usual, since this was just an aberration, it’s not a common occurrence in the city. Also the police have tightened security measures so women should feel safe. I will be attending a private terrace party. It is fun, with just close friends, also there won’t be other hassles associated with public places. Moreover, there won’t be any issues of security to worry us. After that we are planning to go on a long drive to Lonavala. We plan to return to Mumbai by afternoon.    
—Kripi Ballu

Five-stars must keep check on miscreants
Responsible revelry can be ensured by keeping a watch on one’s actions. You can start with drinking responsibly and not overdoing it. If you have consumed alcohol and feel tipsy, don’t be ashamed of accepting it and don’t be at the wheel. Terrace parties are a good option, at least the revellers are known to us. Women should make sure that they don’t venture out alone. If they have to be out till late, they must make sure that they are in a group. The management of hotels holding annual parties should ensure proper security checks to keep an eye on people flocking to the party. Miscreants must be kept in check.
—Ajay Aswani

Mumbai is safe, barring a few incidents
December 31 is the best time to celebrate and no one wants to miss out on the party scene. Every year, we go to one of the best places in town and we always ensure that we move around in groups. Out of the large group of friends, there are few of us who abstain from consuming alcohol. They take the responsibility of driving the others home. There are no chances of incidents of drunken driving, because some of my friends are teetotallers. Mumbai is safer compared to other cities. Moreover, last year after the November 26 terror attacks, there wasn’t much fervour to celebrate. This year people want to celebrate with great gusto.  —Ganesh Bhonsle

Ensure people know the effects of their acts
I will ensure that none of my friends drink and drive or do anything that may harm or cause inconvenience to the society at large. If someone is about to cross the limits, make the individual see the consequences of their actions. I’m going to be partying at a friend’s place, that way I get to have a blast and I don’t run the risk of encountering drunk drivers or inebriated strangers. There are rules and regulations to ensure that revellers behave responsibly. Pubs and restaurants must make sure that there is no underage drinking; this must be strictly observed by the proprietors of restaurants. Avoid moral policing in private parties.                                        
—Valsa Terron

One wrong act can spoil the festive spirit
This year, I won’t be going out. I prefer to have a quiet celebration with friends and family at my house. It’s a bad time to party, since most public places are crowded and too expensive. The advantage of a party at home is that the food, music and beverages can be of our choice. Also, if anybody gets tipsy, they can stay over rather than worry about how to get home. Usually revellers get carried away and forget their limits, this leads to mishaps. They shouldn’t forget that the mood is to have fun and not get drunk and misbehave. One wrong move can spoil the spirit of celebration. Everyone should act responsible rather than depending on others for safety.   
—Gorky Puri

We make sure that our guests reach their homes safely
We will be very vigilant and keep a track of people coming to our hotel. We will also provide drivers to guests, who may prefer to be driven down to their residence. We have also made a provision of hiring taxis for guests who may want to be dropped to a particular place. We take initiatives to ensure that guests moving out of the hotel be driven safely to their destination. 

When people are enjoying themselves on New Year’s Eve and if they are within their limits and don’t disturb anyone then we are fine with it. Hotels follow norms and are sensitive to the requirement of public safety. We have taught personnel to handle tipsy guests. Our staff knows how to tackle those guests who can be potential trouble makers
—Sherley Singh, owner, Hotel Samraj

Bartenders and staff will keep track of miscreants
We have taken approvals from the chief fire officer after examination of venues in which the programmes will be taking place. There are two fire exits in every venue, fire extinguishers have also been installed, so that we are prepared if any mishap occurs. The traffic control department too has been notified about the capacity of the car parking in the hotel according to the number of tickets printed. We are taking extra precautions so that there are no drunken brawls. Bartenders have been told to keep an eye on tipplers. They will inform the authorities immediately if they find any miscreants. Hotels must make sure that people return safely from the venue. Moreover, we hope our guests understand their responsibility and don’t go overboard.
—Jasjit Assi, manager, Four Seasons Hotel

Rarely do things go out of hand, all precautions taken
On an occasion like this, most people want to celebrate with sumptuous food and drinks. Rarely do things get out-of-hand, only if proper precautions aren’t taken. We are in the business of hospitality for many years and haven’t faced any situation. For the annual New Year bash, we make arrangements as per the booking we get. If we have area for 200 guests, we allow the same number to seek entry. It is necessary to avoid any inconvenience for customers at a later stage. Moreover people come in large numbers, so we have made arrangements for a buffet banquet. We have more then a hundred varieties of cuisines including Indian, Continental and Chinese. This will cut down the waiting period, since waiters won’t be taking orders and delivering food at the table.
—Tony Singh, owner Pritam da Dhaba

We verify if drivers know the roads and are teetotallers
Inebriated drivers imperil their life and also put the safety of pedestrians in jeopardy. To avoid such fatalities, the traffic police have to crackdown on inebriated motorists. So we provide drivers to people who want to enjoy the party and drink. Due to festive parties and celebration drivers are in demand. We have taken care to engage the right drivers, their antecedents have been ascertained. We ensure that the drivers are teetotallers and have a licence. We also verify their skills to check if they can drive safely and if they know the geography of the city. Revellers can simply call and book a driver, by indicating their location and final destination two hours in advance. We accept booking round-the-clock on 43331333.
—Saurabh Shah, commercial chauffer service


Revellers are expected to throng various sea fronts, beaches, hotels and clubs. It will result in slow vehicular movement at many places. There will also be considerable presence of police personnel. We expect motorists not to drive under the influence of alcohol and other revellers to behave in an orderly fashion.”
—Sanjay Barve, joint police commissioner (traffic)