The government’s education campaign for the public says, “don’t drink”, but its diktat to pubs and bars is to compulsorily “lift” 52 cases — around 460 litres — of the euphemistically named Indian Made Foreign Liquor, Excise officials enforce this rule under the Karnataka Excise Act, while police go after pubs and bars that stay open beyond 11.30 pm and come after you and me with breathalyzers and challans.
Is this government punch drunk? Ironically, it’s the pub and bar owners who are now fighting to ensure that you and I stay sober.” Is the government trying to make alcoholics out of its citizens by forcing pubs and bars to lift 52 cases of IML every month?” asks Ashish Kothare, president of their association. Not only that, they are appealing to the appellate authority against the government diktat, and are even ready to go to the Supreme Court.