No fear of law, Bacchus lovers create nuisance in public places in Amritsar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 21

Drinking alcohol in public places, outside roadside liquor vends and eating joints, especially those serving non-veg, has become a nuisance as the local police look the other way.

Though the police claimed to have taken steps to check the menace, alchohol drinking along roads can be seen in different parts of the city. Residents have expressed their concern over the rising menace and drinker have no fear of the law. They have urged the authorities concerned to nip the evil in the bud before it leads to incidents of crime.

}Liquor consumption in the open by the roadside is an offence and offenders will be dealt with strictly. The police officials have been asked to take appropriate measures to discourage people from indulging in drinking. I'll ask the

Liquor consumption in the open by the roadside is an offence and offenders will be dealt with strictly. The police officials have been asked to take appropriate measures to discourage people from indulging in drinking. I'll ask the SHOs to take action against them. Parminder Singh Bhandal, Deputy Commissioner of Police

Anil Vinayak, a former banker and social activist, said people could be seen consuming liquor outside a ‘fancy’ liquor vend near Rattan Singh Chowk here. He said they encroach on the road by parking their bikes and scooters outside vends and start consuming liquor there.

“It is a busy road, which witnesses a large number of commuters moving from place to another. It is very unpleasant to see people indulging in drinking along the road,” he said.

Globally famous for its food and cuisines, drinking in public places has been a nuisance in the holy city. People can be seen drinking and consuming alcohol in their vehicles outside famous eateries and dhabas that offer non-vegetarian food. Sometimes, it creates a law and order problem as brawls and sometimes firing have been reported at these points in the past.

Though drinking alcohol in public places has been banned by the city police, the nuisance is rampant here.

Various eati.ng joints on Majitha Road, Ranjit Avenue, Lawrence Road and the main GT Road are favourite destinations of those wanting to have liquor. Residents of these localities as well as senior police officials have expressed their concern over the menace.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Parminder Singh Bhandal said liquor consumption in the open by the roadside was an offence and offenders would be dealt with strictly. He said the police officials were asked to take appropriate measures to discourage people from indulging in drinking. “I’ll ask the SHOs to take action against the offenders,” he added.

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