Officials in Hyderabad are searching for novel methods that would ensure the safety of those who tend to forget the prescribed limit of intake of alcohol in bars and restaurants They are planning to make bar and pub owners responsible for the safe transportation of their customers’ homes. The bars will take it upon themselves to test the quantum of alcohol consumed by their customers with the help of breath analyzers
In a state like Telangana where alcohol enjoys a lot of social acceptability, weaning away tipplers from a drink or two beyond the limit is a Herculean task.
Another situation which the prohibition authorities have to battle is that the state government is heavily dependent on the revenue the bars and liquor shops generate to the exchequer.
These compulsions appear to have forced the police and excise officials in Hyderabad to search for novel methods that would ensure the safety of those who tend to forget the prescribed limit of intake of alcohol in bars and restaurants, rather than totally weaning away the guzzlers from the revenue-generating habit.
As the enthusiasm of curbing alcoholism should also not go to the extent of affecting the flow of revenue to the traders and state, Hyderabad Police and Excise authorities are trying to handle the issue with kid gloves: making bar and pub owners responsible for the safe transportation of their customers’ homes.
“This is not a new practice. This has been in vogue for quite a few years on New Year’s Day, when pubs and bars need to ensure that their clients got home safe after the bars closed midnight. Now the department is thinking of making it an everyday norm,” said a police officer, who is involved in the talks with pubs and bars on the new practice.
Once there is an agreement between the bars and law enforcers, the bars will take it upon themselves to test the quantum of alcohol consumed by their customers with the help of breath analyzers and take steps to get him home safely by organizing a cab.
Alternatively, the drinks will be served beyond the prescribed limit only if one of the guests is a designated driver. The designated drive is not supposed to touch the alcohol even though temptation is stronger when sitting in a party as he is responsible for taking the tipplers home with any harm.
This is the step ostensibly being considered after many unsuccessful attempts to curb the menace of drunk-driving on the Hyderabad roads. Of late the capital of Telangana has become notorious for the abuse of the drunk-driving laws and minor-alcoholics.
As per the figures available with the department, drunk-driving cases have got doubled in the Cyberabad limits. While 5698 cases were booked up to June 2015, this year they have gone up to 10,368. Drinking among the minors is also on the rise.
While 1088 minors were pulled up for liquor consumption last year, this year, their number rose to 1289. The habit of day-time drunk-driving is also alarmingly high in Cyberabad.
In the next phase of the drive against the drunk-driving, breath analysis for the quantity of alcohol consumed is expected to be done in the bar itself. The police and excise department are contemplating a clause that will make the possession of breath analyzers compulsory in the bar licensing norms.
