Govt launches inspection of liquor shops, registers FIR against restaurant

A day after Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced a crackdown against liquor consumption in the public, the Delhi government on Thursday launched inspection of city’s liquor shops and got an FIR registered against a restaurant for illegal serving the drink.

According to officials, seven teams of Excise Department conducted inspections at Nehru Place, Paharganj, Motipur, Rajendra Place, Rohini and Gujranwala Town.

“An FIR was registered at the Alipur Police Station (Outer Delhi) against a restaurant under the Excise Act on the G T Karnal Road for illegally serving alcohol on its premises without a valid licence of running a bar,” a senior government official said.

The move comes a day after Sisodia announced a crackdown on consumption of liquor in the open area around alcohol shops from November 8. During the inspections it was found that liquor vends had installed CCTV cameras in accordance with directions issued to them and these were found to be functional.

All liquor vends inspected on Thursday were directed to strictly report all cases of illegal consumption of liquor to the Excise Department control room immediately.

“No major violation was found in the departmental stores during inspections. It was noticed that chillers in majority of departmental stores were found to be non-functional,” official further said.

On Wednesday, the Delhi government announced it would strictly enforce the Excise Act post November 7 under which consuming alcohol at public places attracts a fine of Rs 5,000 and if the offender creates nuisance than the fine will be up to Rs 10,000 with a jail term of three months.