CHANDIGARH: Punjab is first state in India to brush off the Supreme Court order and resorted to the Excise Act amendment route to allow the sale of booze near highways. The state government amended the Punjab Excise Act, making it legal for hotels, restaurants and clubs situated within 500 metres of highways to serve alcohol. It said the move will help “secure livelihood” of a major segment of the population.
However, the restriction on opening of liquor vends within 500 metres of highways will stay according the directions of the SC. A senior government official said, “With this new amendment, all ambiguities pertaining to serving of liquor at hotels, restaurants and clubs near the highways would be removed.” The amendment Bill 2017 was tabled in the ongoing Budget session of the assembly for enactment. The Cabinet cleared the draft amendment Bill, 2017, on June 19, changing Section 26(A) of the Act. “The bill aims to ensure that hotels, restaurants, clubs and other notified places are allowed to serve alcohol only for consumption within their premises to secure the livelihood of a large segment of the state's population,” the amendment says.
It adds, “The judicial pronouncement is aimed at checking drunken driving and the resultant losses. However, there are a large number of hotels, restaurants, clubs and other enclosed notified places where liquor is sold for consumption.” The bill states that restaurants and hotels are a part of the hospitality and tourism industry which “generates substantial employment in the state.”
“Absence of liquor in hotels, restaurants, clubs, etc., has seriously affected their existence and even their partial closure may create substantial unemployment in the state.”
