Mangaluru Gone like Kannur, where Locals here are queuing to buy their Liquor?
Mangaluru: Just like in Kerala where there is certain restrictions in buying liquor only at wine shops, and Keralites queue in order to get their favorite brand of booze- similarly with the election mode of conduct is in force in Mangaluru, people here too are queuing in order to get their daily dose of alcohol. If one part of the society in Kudla is queuing in front of Mangalore One office to get their Government Health Card (Ayushman Bharat Yojana (Namocare Or Modicare Scheme) in the morning, while other part of the society is queuing in front of the wine shops to get their required alcohol.
After the Election Commissioner had imposed some strict liquor laws until the elections are over- and due to that the scenes around the wine shops have wore a deserted look, if not the areas around these wine shops will be packed with customers sipping on their favorite booze served besides or behind these wine shops. Prior to the election mode of conduct was imposed, many of the wine shops in Mangaluru open according to their hours, some of them early in the morning (before 6 am). But now as per the election rules, bars and wine shops are suppose to open at 10 am and close by 11 pm.
People in queue in front of Mangalore One Office to get their Government Health Card
And due to this new opening hours of the wine shops/bars, people desperate to buy their liquor are seen swamped/queued in front of these watering holes- and as soon as the liquor businesses open at 10 am, they all push and rush inside in order to sip their favorite brand of booze. Looks very funny, as to why is that only during election time these liquor laws are strictly followed. Shouldn’t be the Laws followed throughout the year- irrespective of election or not!
But just wait and see, as soon as the elections are over, the scenes at all the wine shops, bars, and pubs will be back to square one- where wine shops will start serving liquor to their clients early in the morning or late, illegally- pubs and bars will stay open past night closing time. Now the wine shops and bars don’t even open until 10 am due to election mode of conduct, if not you could see some wine shops open as early 5 am or 6 am in the morning-like the one near Bunder Dakke {Port}, where all the fishermen have their morning dose of energy tonic??
These Strict law enforcement have left no fizz in the liquor biz before polls, making it one of the driest ever. At some of the wine shops there are hardly any customers, and also during the weekend, which is unimaginable. But that is what hundreds of them have been like in the last few weeks. With the Excise authorities (with the Election Commission in charge) strictly implementing the rules, wine stores are making less business. The cats have been belled and the liquor business has lost its fizz. This election has turned out to be the driest ever.
People Queued in front of a bar to get their daily dose of alcohol
While these liquor laws are still in force, but many liquor businesses even after closing time, serve customers from their back doors. Whether the excise officials or the police know about it, is a question need to be asked. Or probably they know it and allow the businesses to carry on with this illegal sale, in exchange for moolah? While a few liquor businesses have been caught violating the rules, but not much action has been taken- and many are still back in business as usual.
But local liquor store owners are complaining, as they claim no one is buying from them as they know EC is keeping a tab on bulk sales in a liquor outlet. “The EC has made life hell for us. People think liquor shops make bumper profits around elections but we suffer. It is the illegal traders who gain. Once he reaches the daily quota, he closes his shop to avoid getting a notice against bulk sale,’’ said a bar and restaurant owner.
But what does the law says? The Model Code of Conduct asks parties and candidates abstain from serving or distributing alcohol to voters when the poll code is in force. On polling day and 48 hours preceding it, dry days will be declared to ensure they don’t influence voters will liquor. The confiscated liquor is disposed under the prohibition law. Those bottles deemed unfit for consumption are straight away destroyed and then the rest are taken to an excise departmental store, which are sold to Karnataka Beverages Corporation. Well said in the laws-but why these liquor laws have to be followed ONLY during election time.
Once the elections are over, all the corrupt officials from the Excise department will be once again starting to make their extra buck from these liquor business owners. Among the most corrupted officials that you can find in the government sector, are the ones employed with the Excise Department. It’s not my opinion, ask anyone owning a bar or liquor shop. Liquor businesses pay few thousands per month in order to keep the excise officials happy, and also so that they can operate their business without any hassles or harassment from them. No wonder these excise officials mint so much extra income- the proof is that when the Income Tax sleuths raid their homes, they find stack of currency hidden in the house, also few cars, jewellery etc- just mere government salary won’t add to all these assets. This is all bribe money earned in a corrupt manner!
How strict are these excise officials on wine shops serving liquor to their patrons at the side or behind their shops? It’s the monthly payment to the cops and excise officials that they allow such activity. How many times how the cops or excise officials raided a bar or a wine shop, other than a lounge/pub every now and then? That’s because lounge/pub owner don’t entertain them with bribe etc- so they are always targeted, whereas bar/wine shop owners bribe them in order to earn little extra money, keeping business hours past regular closing hours.
By having all these restrictions we are giving more scope to illegal dealings, corruption in the except/police dept etc. People who can’t live without alcohol know where to get liquor on a dry day? This ban on liquor or restriction is stupidity of certain lawmakers and department officials, who are the first ones CORRUPT and the First ones to BREAK THE LAW? Some of our laws are nothing but a combination of Strictness and Stupidity! While we welcome the law to be implemented strictly, but there are loopholes, where the laws are abused, especially by the dept officials. The excise officials were quick in arresting in innocent people, while many of the crooks/criminals/goondas are still on the loose, which our officials are struggling to apprehend. What society are we living in? Racism and discrimination is playing a vital role in this regard.
In conclusion, what is the point in having all these liquor laws when they are NOT strictly enforced, EXCEPT during election time? All the excise officials and police who have lost all their extra moolah during the last few weeks are anxiously waiting for the election liquor restrictions to get over, so that they can once again be on the same bribe/corrupt track, and make their living an easy way, on the account of these liquor business owners. Oh well, I guess nothing much could be done- the trend has been going on for years, and suppose they will continue in future too. People who make the laws are corrupt, so nothing much could be done. Until then, CHEERS!