Cars, SUVs turn mini-bars

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 2

With marriage palaces falling withing 500 metres of state and national highways stopping serving liquor during functions following directions issued by the Supreme Court, function holders have started turning their cars/SUVs into mini-bars here.

At a function in a local marriage palace, several invitees were seen enjoying drinks in cars and SUVs, parked near the site.

“We are Punjabis. Our functions and celebrations are virtually incomplete without liquor. When the management of the marriage palace refused to serve liquor on the premises following the Supreme Court’s directions, we turned our cars and SUVs into bars for our guests,” said Jaspal Singh, a close relative of a local family, which was solemnising a marriage at a local marriage palace here.

Jaspal Singh said police personnel would “understand” the problem and “cooperate”.

According to SS Sidhu, president of the Punjab Marriage Palaces Association, the apex court order has affected all marriage palaces in Mohali town.

“Following the order, liquor cannot be served in all 21 marriage palaces in Mohali town. I am also including the marriage palaces located on the Kharar-Landran and the Landran-Chunni roads. In such a situation, what will people do,” said Sidhu, adding that members of the association would meet the authorities concerned in a day or two in this regard.

Asked about business being bit following the development, Sidhu said people who had made bookings for their functions in marriage palaces in the coming days had already started making enquiries in this regard. “No wonder, several bookings may get cancelled for this reason alone,” said Sidhu. 

The SC order has also affected around 25 hotels and restaurants in Mohali town.  Randip Singh Gill, Excise and Taxation Officer here, said barring four, the bar licences of the remaining  restaurants/hotels had not been renewed by the department.