Saying cheers

The Supreme Court’s clarification that highways within city limits are exempt from its order banning sale of liquor along highways, has come as a relief to the owners of hundreds of bars and pubs who had downed their shutters for over two months.

A few pubs and bars on Church Street and MG Road have already reopened and more are likely to open in the next couple of days. People frequenting the watering holes in the Central Business District (CBD) say it is nice to see the fizz return to these places.       

Bengalureans point out that they missed being in the most happening places in the city. “I don’t drink but a lot of my friends who do were unhappy with M G Road and Brigade Road running dry for the last few months. We are thrilled that they are opening again,” says Aditya Stephen, a professional.

Ankith, a student of JD Institute of Fashion, who comes to Brigade Road frequently, says, “I have noticed how the crowd had reduced over the last two months because of the closure of pubs and restaurants. Our city is known for its pubs and this should be undisturbed,” he says.  

People, like Ravinder Pal Singh, an employee of Accenture, are of the opinion that MG Road and Brigade Road have a certain charm and that attracts people in large numbers. “This place is popular for its bars, pubs and restaurants and to see them shut was really disappointing. My friends and I come here whenever we want to eat out. It is expensive to eat and drink in these places, so paying a big amount only for food, without the beverages, makes no sense,” reasons Ravinder. 

The owners of restaurants and pubs in and around the CBD, who had temporarily closed down, point out that they have incurred huge losses. The owner of ‘Guzzlers Inn’, who didn’t want to be named, says, “We’ve remained shut from July because it doesn’t make sense for us to serve only food when alcohol is also a part of our menu. We hope to get our licences renewed at the earliest and start business as usual,” he says.

But he admits that it will take at least a month for them to return to normal business.

Sharing his views, Venkatesh S, manager of Pecos, says they have incurred about 80 percent loss in the last two months. “We have had people asking us when the pub will open. We can’t serve just food and wish that it makes good business. People who are regulars here come for both alcohol and food. The two are inseparable,” says Venkatesh. 

But there are some others like Akash Sonu Prasad, an employee of Amazon, who thinks that once a ban has been imposed, it should remain in place. “Once the ban has come into effect, it should remain in place. Changing it again is like playing with the law. Not everybody who comes to
the CBD comes to drink. There are so many other things that one can do
here like eating and shopping,” he reasons.