Consuming alcohol at public places will attract a fine of Rs5,000 instead of Rs200 (the current fine) and if the offender creates nuisance then the fine will be up to Rs10,000 with a jail term of three months.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia issued a warning to the worshippers of Bacchus to desist from drinking in the open otherwise they will be arrested from November 7.
A survey would be carried out by the Excise Department to check whether there is violation of excise rules by liquor vends in the national Capital. The announcement came days after Sisodia led a team of excise officials to conduct raids at four liquor stores in an East Delhi market. Interestingly, all these provisions are in Excise Policy Act and it is duty of the Delhi Police to keep tab on those worshippers of Bacchus to desist from drinking in the open and create nuisance at public place.
According to Sisodia, that there will be a strict vigil on the liquor stores and the area surrounding them to discourage public consumption of liquor and public nuisance caused due to it. "We have decided a three-fold approach. Over the next one week, special teams will conduct inspection of all liquor stores in the city to ensure license terms are not violated," Sisodia said.
"We will simultaneously run a public awareness campaign, making an appeal to the public not to consume liquor in public areas. If someone still consumes liquor in public areas after November 7, we will arrest them and appropriate action will be taken," he added.
According to officials, all offences punishable under the Act with imprisonment of two years and more shall be non-bailable and the provisions of the code of criminal procedures with respect to non-bailable offence will apply to those offences. As per the new legislation, sale of liquor is not permitted near religious places and schools. Hence, it has extended the prohibited area limit from 75 metres to 100 metres for such places.
There are 500 liquor vends across the city. Of these, 400 liquor vends generate 90 per cent revenue. The total excise duty collection target is fixed Rs4500 crore in the current fiscal year. The growth rate of excise collection is less than 10 per cent. "There are apprehensions that these measures will decline the excise collection further in the current fiscal year. The department would not meet the target," officials said. The Government has also directed all liquor vends to install CCTV camera inside and outside the vends to keep track on tipplers.
Sisodia said the teams will also survey the area around the liquor stores to identify other businesses promoting public consumption of liquor, including those selling disposable glasses, snacks etc. "Government will also install CCTV cameras outside the liquor stores," he said.
Besides these steps, the Delhi Government intends to come down heavily on illegal businesses flourishing around these vends. "The ambience around the shops will also be inspected. Therefore our teams will ensure CCTV camers are also installed outside the shops for foolproof monitoring," Sisodia said.