Underage drinking rampant in city

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27

The age limit of 25 years fixed by the Excise and Taxation Department of the Chandigarh Administration to take liquor in the city has become useless as a majority of the bars and pubs failed to adhere to the direction.

One can see a large number of youths below the age of 25 years sitting in bars and pubs in the city enjoying drinks without any restriction. They continue to buy drinks easily at the bars and nobody asks them about their age.

A parent, on the condition of anonymity, said he and his wife find it disturbing to see liquor being served freely to underage youths in different clubs and lounges, especially the ones in the backyard of Sector 26 and Sector 7 showrooms on Madhya Marg.

Sumit, another resident, said lack of checking by officers of the Excise and Taxation Department was also responsible for rampant violation of rules.

A youth at one of the bars said no one asks for our age when we visit bars. He said the age limit of 25 years was ridiculous and needs to be reconsidered. The youth said he was 22 years old and he could take decision what to drink or not.

Samar, another student, said if the youths above 18 years were allowed to vote, then why couldn’t they be allowed to drink?

However, bar and restaurant owners said they follow the rules and their staff have been instructed to not to serve liquor to youths if they have doubts over their age.

Harman Sidhu, who was behind the ban on the sale of liquor along state and national highways, said alcohol was responsible for a large number of accidents and crimes. The Administration should ensure that persons below the age of 25 should not be served liquor and those doing so should be penalised.

Advocate Ajay Jagga said there is an urgent need to start checking at night clubs. All bars must display the rules and seek ID from buyers.

He said under the Punjab Intoxicants License and Sales Orders - 1956, a licensee shall not sell liquor to any person below the age of 25 years. Violators can be prosecuted and their licence can be suspended. Heavy penalties are imposed in foreign countries every day. But in India, outrage is not enough in society due to the poor implementation of rules regarding the sale of liquor to minors.

When contacted, a senior officer of the Excise Department said they would start a drive to ensure that laws are followed.

Gurinder Juneja, Secretary, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Chandigarh, said the age limit of 25 years for taking alcohol has no logic and should be reduced to at least 21 years immediately.