Liquor ban not a spoiler for party revellers

Not a single accident in city on New Year eve, claims district transport officer

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, January 1: For the young generation now–a–days, partying without booz is an outdated form of enjoyment, and the city of Guwahati is also not an exception to the trend.

But this time, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration acted as a party–spoiler for the revellers, issuing a directive to wrap up celebrations by 12.30 on New Year eve.

A ban on selling and serving liquor after 10 pm in the city came as a double blow to those who have planned to welcome the New Year with a bang.

Last year, the district administration had kept a provision in its order relaxing the norm for some of the lounges and pubs in the city. But this year, it made no exceptions.

The traffic enforcement officials patrolled almost all parts of the city on Wednesday night to keep a check on tipsy driving. Besides, the authorities asked smokers to abstain from taking the puff in public places.

Excise Department sources said that liquor was sold illegally in different parts of the city on Wednesday with such pubs/shops making a whopping business of Rs 40 crore or even more.

However, the December 31 night was surprisingly accident free, claimed the district transport official. Fifteen squads formed by the district administration kept eyes on unruly revellers.