Drunk drivers make roads unsafe as early as 8 pm

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For those of us who believed that party revellers cause menace post midnight, beware, for Delhi roads are as unsafe at 8 pm on weekdays as well. A recent surprise check by Delhi Traffic Police between 8-10 pm saw 203 prosecutions within two hours of which 160 were for drunken driving as posted by Satyendra Garg, joint

commissioner traffic on Facebook. Though nothing shocks him anymore, Mr Garg admits he was surprised by the rise in number of people drinking and driving on a Monday evening. He says, “Maybe people are under the impression that Delhi traffic police doesn’t conduct checks on weekdays, but for a working day the number was high. This is a time when people are coming back from work and we didn’t expect to catch offenders in such a large number.”
Weekday drinking has seen an upward trend and pubs in the city have attendance as early as 6 pm in the evenings. Says Vyoum Ghai, director Buzz says, “It’s mostly the young corporate crowd that comes in for a drink early in the evenings. They like to make the most of our happy hour that lasts till 9 pm. So they come in by 6, stay for a short while and leave.”
Media professional Niharika Behl (name changed) likes her drinks and has no qualms whatsoever driving back home after drinking. She says, “My colleague and I often buy liquor from wine and beer shops close to our office and drink on our way back from work. At times, we head to the nearby pub and hangout till 11 pm or so. I am not scared of cops when I am drunk as it’s easy to get away by paying a few bucks and I have noticed they usually don’t stop girls for checking.”
Most pubs say they are busy throughout the week and sometimes more on a weekday.
Gautam Miglani, bar and beverages manager at Gbar, The Grand says, “There have been times we have had more people on weekdays than weekend. We attract a lot of corporate crowd in their 20s and early 30s who don’t mind having a cocktail or beer with their lunch. Coming in at 6-6.30 pm is a given for many. With various promotional activities in the capital, sometimes even alcohol turns out to be cheaper than food.”
Mr Garg emphasises in his post, “If one has to drink, he should do so at a place after which he is not needed to drive or if one drinks and has to travel then he should take an auto or a taxi. A way has to be found to avoid compromising on safety and negating the possibility of a jail term.”
Shweta Sharma, (name changed) an MNC professional, goes clubbing with friends and says so far their car has never been stopped. “We are out till 3 am or so at times, but have never faced any problem. All of us are educated and aware of the law, but it hasn’t stopped my friends from drinking and driving.”