JOIN US More than 800 pubs and restaurants with bars in the city, including the famous watering holes on MG Road and Brigade Road, will continue to function but will not serve alcohol from Friday midnight.
National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) president Manu Chandra said the CL-9 (bars and restaurants) licence-holders, which include pubs and big restaurants with bars, will function if they have the requisite permission. “We won’t serve liquor as long as we don’t get licence. We will abide by the rules,” he said.
The NRAI has decided to move the Karnataka High Court seeking clarification on classification of roads in the central business district area of Bengaluru. “We respect the Supreme Court verdict, but we want a clarification as to how roads in the centre of the city can be classified as highways,” said Manu Chandra.
Owners of several pubs and bars expressed anguish at the failure of PWD and excise department officials to get highways in city limits denotified. “We are trying to resolve a huge mess.
Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and the chief minister have been cooperative. We hope they bring us some relief,” said Ananth Narayan of Bierre Republic. The CL-2 (retail liquor shops) licence-holders, falling within 500 metres of national and state highways in urban areas and 200 metres in rural areas, will shut up shop.
“We don’t see the state government bringing any relief to us. Bar owners from Chandigarh have moved the Supreme Court seeking a review. If the apex court doesn’t change its mind, there is no other way than shifting the shops,” said Liquor Marketing Association president S Guruswamy.
Clubs get breather
Clubs need not shift or stop serving liquor as the excise department has decided to renew their licences, DHNS reports from Bengaluru. “Clubs do not sell liquor in retail as only members are served alcohol. Hence, the Supreme Court order does not apply to them. Considering this, we have decided to renew their licences,” a senior excise official said.