Hundreds of owners of watering holes — bars, liquor shops and pubs — coming under the highway limit, in and around IT city Bengaluru are left high and dry as the deadline of Saturday is fast approaching to shut shop as per the Supreme Court order. The Bengalurians with a cosmopolitan outlook always socialising in these waterholes have to face the wrath of the Supreme Court to face the dry days.
Many professionals for whom Bengaluru is the pub city will lose its shine as they have to face the dry days unless the Union Government decide to de-notify these highways. Many pub hoppers are worried over the consequence of the ban and finding alternatives to gap a hole in the water holes.
According to State Government sources at least over 800 bars and pubs will have to shut their shops in and around Bengaluru by Saturday, as the Central Government is yet to decide whether the six important highways in Bengaluru will be de-notified. If there is no decision the water holes come within 500m of highways will have to shut, as per apex court order.
The bar owners are crossing their fingers as it hurts their business but confident that State Government might give them time to shift without cancelling their licences. Karnataka is one of the top States in terms of alcohol consumption and sales. According to State excise department notices have been issued directing liquor shops that fall within the court order to stop serving liquor and retail outlets to either relocate or close.
Many water holes in MG road, church street and other roads which cone under central business district (CBD) are classified as highways, affecting owners and patrons of restaurants, pubs, bars and other establishments in these areas.
Madhukar Shetty, secretary of Karnataka Hotels Association feels the issue may not be resolved by June 30. He says the roads (highways have to be de notified by Union and State Governments. He says they lose business without the help of the Government. According to Shetty even if they are allowed to relocate, not all will be able to. Shetty estimates that only 60 per cent will be able to shift as it requires a huge amount of capital. The rest will probably shut down permanently, he estimates.
An excise offcial said “Retailers will have to shift or close down units; there is no other way currently. They have to pay 50 per cent of their renewal fee as shifting charges. Suppose the licence fee is Rs4 lakhs, and then the retailer has to pay Rs2 lakh as shifting charges.”
According to sources water holes in and around MG road Church street where thousands socialise as part of a culture will be deprived and find ways to sources their needs.
As the deadline is fast approaching many pubs and bars are offering liquor at cheap rates to clear their stock. It’s not just high-end bars — some of the oldest outlets on MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street too have offers and discounts for customers as well.
The uncertainty over the issue of closer has staring at bar employees, who will be affected if they close down.
