New Delhi: After allowing liquor outlets in shopping malls, the Delhi Government is all set to bring a new law for preventing any revelry caused by the liberal sale of alcohol. The Excise Bill 2009 provides for a hefty fine of Rs 50,000 and a non-bailable jail term for consuming alcohol at public places. If the consumer creates a nuisance, he may have to shell out an additional Rs 10,000 in fine.
The Bill will be introduced in the winter session of Delhi Assembly. It is anticipated that the Government’s move would rein in the wayward spirits.
Delhi Finance Minister Dr AK Walia told The Pioneer that the move was a deterrent for checking the incidence of drinking at public places. The existing legislation provides for a Rs 200-fine and the offence is bailable. "I am confident that stricter punishments will deter people from consuming alcohol at public places," Walia said. "We have allowed the sale of liquor at shopping malls. But it does not mean that we will take a lenient approach towards those who consume alcohol at public places," the Minister added.
The Bill would replace the Punjab Excise Act, 1914. It would have provisions for stringent penalties, including imprisonment, to curb hooch tragedies like the recent ones in Raghubir Nagar and Dabri.
Reacting to the news, Vikas Mittal — a Chandni Chowk businessman — said it was a good move. "Drinking at public places should be discouraged. But the Government needs to ensure that police don’t harass Bacchus lovers who abide by the law," he cautioned.
The Bill proposes a fine up to Rs 10,000 for unlawful sale and delivery of liquor to any person below 21 years of age; and no licencee shall employ or permit any such person on his premises. If the licence holder employs any person younger than 21 years of age, he shall be punishable by three months in jail or a fine up to Rs 50,000. Consuming liquor at a chemist’s shop would attract a penalty up to Rs 2,000.
The Bill proposes a fine of Rs 50,000 and a six-month jail term for illegal import, export, transport, manufacture, possession or sale of liquor. Selling spurious liquor would land one in jail for six months, besides a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The Bill envisages empowering excise officers for making searches, seizures, detentions or arrests.
Nearly 65 per cent of the 12,000 road accidents in the national Capital in 2008 were caused by drunk drivers, according to a report prepared by an NGO. The 2009 Delhi Drunken Driving Report, prepared by the Campaign Against Drunken Driving (CADD), says Delhi "loses 1,500 persons every year" in accidents caused by drunk drivers. As per statistics, the police registered 7,963 such cases till August 15 as against 4,845 during the same period last year. Over 21.63 lakh challans were issued till August 15 this year.
