As Games ‘spirit’ soars, Govt issues regulation-October 02, 2010

As Games ‘spirit’ soars, Govt issues regulation

October 02, 2010 11:34:04 PM

Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi

As the city gets into festive mood with the opening of the Commonwealth Games just two days away, the Government is all set to notify rules to regulate ‘spirited festivity’ in public. The excise rule being notified proposes a hefty fine of `5,000 for the first offence, `10,000 for the second offence and `50,000 if there is a gathering of more than four people.

Delhi Excise Minister Ashok Kumar Walia told The Pioneer that the Delhi Excise Act 2010 will be notified either on Monday or Tuesday by Lieutenant Governor’s Office. “It provides for stringent action against those involved in trade of liquor violating provisions,” Walia said, adding the Act would be helpful to keep check on illegal sale of liquor during festive season and Commonwealth Games in the national Capital. The Act will replace the Punjab Excise Act, 1914.

The Bill proposes fine of `5,000 to those consumes liquor in a public place. If the offender consumes liquor in public place and creates nuisance, the fine is `10,000 with three months imprisonment. If permit holder allows assembly of unsocial elements on the premises of liquor establishment, the fine is `50,000 with six months imprisonment. “There would not be any spot challan for violation of Excise rules. The department would issue challan to offender and court will impose the fine,” sources said.

The Bill proposes minimum age for drinking as 25 year while it proposes 21 years as the age for taking up the job of a bar tender. The Act has stringent penalties and provision, including imprisonment aiming to curb hooch tragedies like the recent one in Raghubir Nagar and Dabri, where two dozen people had died after consuming spurious liquor.

The Bill proposes fine up to `10,000 for unlawfully sales and delivery of any liquor to any person under the age of 21 years. No licencee shall employ or permit any person below 21 at his premises. If licence holder employs any person below 21 shall be punishable for three-month jail or with fine up to `50,000. The consumption of liquor in a chemist’s shop is prohibited. If person consumes liquor at chemist shop, shall be punishable up to `2,000.

Consumption of liquor at public places also amount to fine of `5,000. If he creates nuisance, the fine may extend to `10,000. The Bill also proposes fine of `50,000 for unlawful import, export, transport, manufacture and possession and sale of liquor with six month jail punishment.

It also proposes fine of `1 lakh and six-month jail for selling spurious liquor. The bill also says `1 lakh fine and six-month jail for possession of unlawfully imported non-duty paid liquor. The Act proposes allowing women bartenders, provisions of stringent penalty and jail term for employing minors or selling liquor to minors, consumption of liquor in public places.

The Act will also simplify the very complicated duty structure in the city. Instead of the complicated per case and per bottle calculations and the myriad jargons of vend fee and assessment fee etc, taxes on liquor will be charged as simple percentages of MRP which will vary with the nature of the drink. Moreover, the present Act since it dates back to 1914 has many obsolete concepts and is also inadequate in some cases.

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