Notice to bars: No permit, no drink

If you have plans to drink and listen to music in a pub or bar on New Year, get your licence from the excise department.

The police have given notices to all the pubs and bars in the western suburbs to check the permit of every guest. Bars and pubs have got strict instructions to make sure a customer has a permit if he/she is drinking. If a bar serves drink to one who doesn’t has a permit, then not only the person drinking but also the owner will face police action. “We have sent notices to all pubs and bars in our area. It’s their responsibility to check the permit. If they fail to do so, then they will be prosecuted,” said Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of Police of Zone-IX.

“We will go to all the places where liquor is served to check if the bar staff is checking permits,” said Dighavkar.

The police have sought help from the excise department to conduct checks. The bouncers at the bars and pubs will check the permit before a guest is served alcohol.

“A majority of people consuming liquor don’t carry permits. The bar owners don’t check the permit as they don’t want to lose customers,” added Dighavkar.