Karnataka excise department vows to curb drinking at liquor stores

Residents of Indiranagar are upset about liquor shops serving drinks on their premises. The practice is illegal, and a nuisance to those living in the neighbourhood, they say.

I Change Indiranagar, a federation of resident welfare organisations (RWAs) of the area, has written to excise minister R B Thimmapur to address the problem. Its founder Sneha Nandihal explains that these shops have a CL-2 license, which allows for sale of alcohol but not consumption on the premises. “Excise inspectors drop in and warn them, but they are back to functioning normally almost immediately,” she says.

This is the practice of almost all liquor stores in Indiranagar, but four (two in Indiranagar, and one each in HAL2nd and 3rd stages) are particularly a menace as they are in residential areas. 

“All the liquor stores are doing it illegally and we want authorities to put an end to it. They (customers) are served alcohol in plastic cups, and the stores even have snacks to go with the drinks,” says Sneha.

‘Unruly behaviour’

Though 10 am to 10:30 pm is the mandated operating hours for these shops, some open as early as 6 am and shut well beyond 11 pm. “Even on dry days, though the shutter is down, the owner sells liquor out of a bag in front of the shop,” shares a resident who lives opposite one such shop.

Customers sit on pavements drinking and eating. “It is unsafe for women, kids and even men to pass through,” he explains, adding that a playground 30-40 metres from the shop has turned into a ‘public urinal’ thanks to men who frequent it. “There are plenty of schools near the store, which is another problem,” he points out.

According to a resident, a layout in HAL 2nd Stage has changed since a liquor store opened there roughly 10 years ago. The residents are contending with erratic parking, footpath encroachment and unsafe surroundings as a result.

“The park nearby was initially a ‘haven’ for those who’d frequent the store. The RWA put up a fence to discourage them and the situation has been better since, but we continue to deal with unruly individuals,” he states.

There have been instances where drunk men have fallen in front of gates or urinated on fences. Some mix alcohol in the tender coconut they buy from the vendor on the footpath.

“We have complained to the BBMP multiple times, but nothing has been done so far,” he says.

Common problem

Anand Mangalam, member of the J P Nagar 24th Main RWA, has seen multiple such establishments in his neighbourhood. “They usually have a curtain in the back where you can go and drink and leave quietly, but I have not seen it creating a nuisance for residents,” he says. However, some of these stores are close to schools and temples, and that, according to him, is the bigger problem. The law states that no liquor establishment can be located within 100 metres of educational institutions, places of worship or healthcare facilities.

Kochu Shankar, of the Ramamurthy Nagar RWA, says the development is not new. “But it has not yet become a problem in our area, because the shops are not located on residential roads,” he notes.

On Lavelle Road and St Mark’s Road, it was common to see people buying alcohol and drinking in their cars.
“But it is not so common now, after the RWA raised the problem with authorities,” reveals Sunita Kumar from the Lavelle Road RWA.

Excise inspector speaks

Excise inspector Geetha D held a meeting with liquor shop owners in Indiranagar and HAL areas on Tuesday to discuss the concerns raised by the RWAs. “We have given them a warning and if they do not adhere to the rules, cases will be filed and further action will be taken,” she told Metrolife.