Finding a smarter way out of the Supreme Court order, Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday passed amendments in the State Excise Act allowing serving of liquor in hotels, restaurants and clubs located on highways.
The apex court had on December 15, 2016, ordered that liquor vends located within 500 metres on the national and State highways should be closed down. later, it had modified the order reducing the distance to 220 metres in areas having a population of up to 20,000, while making it clear that its previous order banning vends within 500 metres of highways would remain operative for other areas.
The State Cabinet had on Monday okayed a proposal to amend Section 26-A of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, for fixing a location of liquor vends on national and State highways, removing hotels, restaurants and clubs from the restrictions on serving liquor within 500 metres of those roads.
Moving the Punjab Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2017, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra said the Bill is aimed at “maintaining balance” in the loss of employment in tourism industry and implementing traffic rules.
The Bill stated that the “judicial pronouncement is aimed at checking drunken driving and the resultant losses. However, there are large number of hotels, restaurants, clubs and other enclosed notified places where liquor is sold for in situ consumption”.
“These are part of the hospitality and tourism industry which generates substantial employment in the State. Absence of liquor in hotels, restaurants, clubs, etc, has seriously affected their existence and even their partial closure may create substantial unemployment in the State,” it added.
The Bill aims to ensure that hotels, restaurants, clubs and other notified places are allowed to serve alcohol only for consumption on their premises “to secure the livelihood” of a large segment of the State’s population.
“There shall be a restriction on opening of liquor vends on or within 500 metres of the highways,” it added.
The sale of liquor shall be permitted only through licensed vends which shall not be located within 500 metres from the outer range of the national or State highway or a service lane of those roads.
Also, liquor vends shall neither be directly visible nor accessible from highways.
The Bill mentions that notwithstanding anything contained in any judgement, decree or order of any court, tribunal or authority, every club, hotel, restaurant or any notified place having a licence shall be entitled to serve liquor on the premises located near national or State highways.
Government’s move to allow hotels and restaurants on highways to serve liquor has brought it bouquets as well as criticism.
Former Additional Solicitor General of India Mohan Jain, speaking with The Pioneer, said, “The intention behind the SC order was that people should not drink and drive on the highways resulting in accidents. But, the development makes it clear that people would consume liquor in hotel, clubs, and restaurants on highways before undertaking their journey.”
On the other hand, the National Restaurant Association of India’s president Riyaaz Amlani welcomed the move and said, “We are hopeful that taking inspiration from these
laudable moves, the Centre and other States will address issues.”