With fewer watering holes open, Ggn tipplers head to Delhi

The closure of bars and pubs situated along the Delhi-Jaipur Highway in Gurugram has led most millennials in Gurugram to venture to pubs and bars of Delhi for the weekend.

Most millennials expressed their dismay over the Supreme Court order directing closure of bars and watering holes located within 500 m of national and state highways. Friday's judgement means that more than hundred pubs and bars, only in the Cyber Hub area, cannot serve alcoholic beverages to its customers anymore.

The impact of the judgement has also been felt by five-star hotels and watering holes located at Sector Road and Sohna Road.

District authorities in the city swung into action from Saturday, giving notices to various establishments in the city not to serve alcoholic beverages.

"First, I thought it was an April Fools prank. Later, I realised that the pubs and bars in Cyber Hub have actually been prohibited from serving alcoholic beverages. A similar situation prevailed at bars situated along NH-8. Ultimately, I and my friends decided to head to Delhi to enjoy our weekend," said Rohan Dua, a Gurugram-based youth.

Dua added: "I feel that rather than banning the units that serve alcoholic beverages, action must be taken against people who actually violate traffic rules when they are drunk."

Speaking on the impact of the Apex Court judgement, a bar owner in Cyber Hub, requesting anonymity, said: "The closure of more than hundred pubs and bars will surely affect a lot of business and will add to our losses. Already the state government has increased the excise fee of pubs and bars in the city from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. A new location at Golf Course Road and Golf Course Extension is going to cost us even more.

Also, we will have to take care of costs of the staff."

Responding on the order prohibiting them from serving alcohol, an association of heads of hotel and restaurant in Gurugram on Sunday said: "How can one relocate hotels? The ban on sale of alcoholic beverages will affect the business of foreign tourism and wedding functions in the city."

Expressing optimism over the situation, Meghna, another Gurugram millennial said: "I hope that the state government will take some steps to look into this matter."