Finally, relief for hotel industry

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 24

People associated with the hotel and restaurant business finally heaved a sigh of relief after the government amended the excise policy yesterday. Now, serving of liquor along highways has been allowed under the amended rules. Meanwhile, the ban on opening of liquor vends (sale of liquor) at or within 500 metre of any highway stands.

In March this year, the Supreme Court had ordered to stop the sale and service of liquor within the 500 metre of highways. In the new financial year no liquor vend was given licence on highway, but owners of restaurants, marriage palaces and resorts, who were not selling, but serving liquor were crying foul after the apex court orders. They said their business was affected considerably with implementation of new instructions.

While addressing a press conference, Amarvir Singh, general secretary, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Punjab, said they were relieved after the amendment in the policy. He said, “Left with no other option, we had asked 70 per cent of our employees to leave jobs as there was no work left. The hotel industry was on the verge of closure. The amendment has come as a breather for us.” Not only liquor business, but other professions associated with it were also affected, he added. Professions like catering, florists, DJ all suffered losses with ban on the serving of liquor, he said.

“Livelihood of 40 to 100 people, who got work daily at such places have been saved. We are happy over the amendment of the liquor policy,” said Manjeet Nagpal, president of the association.

He said people had stopped holding parties, functions and marriages at banquets and palaces located along highways due to liquor ban. Many palaces and resorts were on the verge of closure as the ban had dented their business, he said. “After the change in liquor policy, the government has brought back smiles on faces of those associated with the profession,” he said.