The recent Supreme Court ruling that ordered a ban on liquor sale within 500 meters across all national and state highways in an attempt to curb the increasing number of road accidents owing to drink-drivingcases, has made pub owners in Gurgaon’s cyber hub and Sector 29 hold on to the last straw of optimism by saying “It will not happen”.
The Supreme Court had made it clear that licenses of existing liquor shops will not be renewed after March 31 leading to speculations about Cyber Hub going dry from April 1 but restaurants and pub owners remain optimistic that the ban will not affect their businesses and will only be applied to small time ‘so called thekas’, as Joy singh from popular café- bar Raasta would like to call them.
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Pub oweners have termed the SC’s decision as unreasonable but understandable, but are sure they will be spared considering the evergrowing number of restro bars in Cyber Hub and Sector 29, Gurgaon and its equally growing demand.
Zorawar Kalra, the founder and managing director Of Farzi Café, laughed when asked if he was in favour of the SC’s decision. ‘What do you think? He asked.
“It will not happen’, Mr. Kalra said. This is “against the fundamental reasoning and rationality of the law”.
‘Restaurants and pubs don’t sell bottles of liquor. Our license doesn’t permit letting customers take home the beer that’s left in the glass! So, how will banning pubs and bars help? It will only adversely affect commerce and revenue and there will be no winners.”
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Joy Singh from Raasta echoes the same sentiments and is optimistic that ‘restaurants and bars will stay out of the ban.’
The apex court had been seeking an amendment to excise laws regarding the sale of liquor around national highways but pub and bar owners believe that if and when the ban is implemented, they will excluded from it since they are not just ‘liquor shops or vends’ but a big time Food and Beverage industry catering to a specific, distinguished consumer base.
