Tipplers Get Ready to Say ‘Cheers with Beers’! Pubs, Bars may Reopen in Unlock 4:0 on 1 September 2020. But No News of Multiplexes, Education institutions Opening Soon in Karnataka
Mangaluru : Even though the Alcohol shops across Karnataka State, including education and party hub, Mangaluru began opening their shutters from 4 May 2020 after the easing of India’s COVID-19 lockdown, where serpentine queues marked the reopening of liquor vending outlets on the first day, but unfortunately, as of now, the pubs, bars, lounges and clubs are still not permitted to operate. In spite of orders from the government about Covid-19 protocol that liquor buyers should mandatory wear face masks and follow physical distancing, they were thrown to the wind. The Karnataka government announced a steep hike in the excise duty on Indian-made Liquor, ranging from 17% to 25%. Liquor Industry bodies representing the alcohol sector had previously written to the government to consider opening of wine shops, since they had suffered a revenue loss of about Rs 700 crore a day owing to no sales of alcoholic beverages.
But now there are rumours, the hospitality industry is both joyous and worried at the news that pubs, bars and restaurants may be permitted to open for dine-in service from 1 September 2020, as Unlock 4:0 kicks in. But whether the bars or pubs will open on 1 September or not, if you look around Mangaluru City, around 50 percent of the bars are selling alcohol in the name of food dining only- and this has to do with the hand in hand deal with excise personnel, police and other corrupt officials in that field. Oh well- money and influence play the game more than laws, I guess! Speaking to reporters, State Excise Minister H Nagesh had said .“We’re very keen on opening bars and restaurants from next month. I’ve told the excise commissioner and finance department to submit a proposal to the chief minister and it’ll be done in a day or two. We’re awaiting the Centre’s guidelines which may allow opening of pubs, bars and restaurants,’’ .
However, sources said the Centre’s guidelines, expected over the next 2-3 days, may not allow bars, clubs and restaurants, cinema halls and educational institutions to reopen at least till September given the spike in Covid cases in different parts of the country. If the state decides to open up, excise department officials said customers may be seated to consume food and drink, and no more than four people can visit a restaurant, pub or bar together. The only exception is family groups which can be larger than four.
It’s been over five months since cinema halls and bars and restaurants shut due to the pandemic and representatives of both sectors have been putting pressure on the government to allow them to resume business. It is learnt that, Govindraj Hegde, the General Secretary of Federation of Wine Merchants Association had said, “We’re hopeful that the government will permit us to open pubs, bars, clubs, lounges etc. There is no point in keeping only a few sectors shut when all others, including hotels, are allowed to open,” -who also has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the hardship of owners and thousands of workers following closure of their business.
The association members have decided to submit petitions to CM Yediyurappa through Deputy Commissioners of all districts before August 29 to put pressure on the government. “If we don’t get permission to open bars, we may hold a token protest across the state before September 10,” had said a bar owner from Belagavi. There’s no clarity yet on the reopening of educational institutions with everybody looking to the Centre for cues.
In the meantime, D R Jairaj, president, Karnataka Film Chamber and Commerce, said the film industry has been on ventilator and not allowing cinema halls to open will deteriorate the situation. “We have appealed to the state government to allow cinema halls to run. We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” he added.
A film producer said postponing the opening of cinema halls will push a lot of producers and film exhibitors into a financial mess and the government must come to their rescue. “There are a dozen films ready and waiting for theatres to open for the past four months. Some may have borrowed money and they’ll be in big trouble if the government postpones opening of cinema halls,” he said. He questioned the rationale of the decision to allow shooting of films while keeping halls shut. “If the government delays opening theatres, there will be unnecessary competition for release of films and small producers and films will suffer in this situation,” he added.
Inputs from TOI
