Liquor consumption publicly in Delhi will lead to arrest, says Sisodia

Those consuming liquor in public will be arrested from November 7, the Delhi government said on Wednesday.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that there will be a strict vigil on the liquor stores and the area surrounding them to discourage public consumption of liquor and public nuisance caused due to it.

“We have decided a three-fold approach. Over the next one week, special teams will conduct inspection of all liquor stores in the city to ensure license terms are not violated,” Sisodia said.

“We will simultaneously run a public awareness campaign, making an appeal to the public not to consume liquor in public areas. If someone still consumes liquor in public areas after November 7, we will arrest them and appropriate action will be taken,” he added.

Sisodia said that the teams will also survey the area around the liquor stores to identify other businesses promoting public consumption of liquor, including those selling disposable glasses, snacks etc.

“The government will also install CCTV cameras outside the liquor stores,” he said. CCTV cameras are mandatory inside the liquor stores.

The announcement comes days after he, along with excise officials, raided four liquor shops in Mayur Vihar Phase-2 area following complaints by the locals that people consume liquor in the open.

Lauding this move, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said this will bring “huge relief” to many residents in the city.

As per the existing excise rules, there is, a ban on consumption of liquor in public places and strict action is taken against the violators.

The AAP government had said no new liquor shops will come up in Delhi this year and mohalla sabhas will be empowered to shut existing neighbourhood vends if there are complaints of “nuisance”.

According to the policy, the process to decide on shutting a shop will be initiated once 10 per cent voters of a mohalla sabha submit a written complaint in this regard.