No 'Bar' on Renewals!

No 'Bar' on Renewals!

Its March and time for renewal of bar licenses. Do we have a procedure or process, transparent enough, that checks and reassess the ground situation taking into consideration various socio-economic indicators before the license of a bar is renewed? Forget the violation of provisions in the Regulations. Its learnt that even a report from Police Station is not sought prior to renewal.

By Zubair Ahmed

We have hundreds of reasons to justify sale of liquor through the ANIIDCO outlets, as well as the hundreds of bars spread across the Islands, ruining lives, families and vitiating the social and communal life. We will cite hundreds of reasons from Jammu & Kashmir to Gujarat to of late Indira Point why prohibition is not an option at all. We shall sneer at and harp that Great Nicobar Development Committee is demanding to get the liquor shop re-opened. We shall try to convince the women, who want sale of liquor to be banned, to think about the ill-effects of illicit liquor and how dangerous it would be. We shall try to organize awareness programmes and not tell them the ill-effects of alcohol on mind and body, but tell them to be moderate. The problem with our efforts is that our conscience doesn't allow us to speak about it, as the saying goes - Don't preach what you don't practice! It's a catch-22 situation.

Its March and time for renewal of bar licenses. Do we have a procedure or process, transparent enough, that checks and reassess the ground situation taking into consideration various socio-economic indicators before the license of a bar is renewed? Forget the violation of provisions in the Regulations. Its learnt that even a report from Police Station is not sought prior to renewal.

If one checks the number of cases registered at each police station, the highest number would be cases related with excise violations. But, do the data have any bearing on our policing? They keep filing cases against violators and still violation keeps going on. The graph never shows a declining trend in cases related with excise.

Out of 3800 cases registered in 2014, 1933 cases were related to Excise Regulation, more than 50% cases!

Recently, the police department, launched a campaign against illegal sale of liquor, involving NGOs and even conducted various programmes in Port Blair. The Police officials accepts that there is no illicit brewing of liquor, but illegal sale procured from ANIIDCO liquor shops thrive. Police in association with NGOs did try to conduct a programme for bootleggers too. In fact, instead of bootleggers, a large number of women turned out at the venue demanding ban on liquor itself. They are the victims of various atrocities committed under the influence of alcohol. A woman narrated her ordeals, where her inebriated son as well as husband creates ruckus at home. There is no denial that many of the cases of domestic violence and suicides can be attributed to this scourge. Legal or illegal, both do equal damage. Though, the police is keen on containing the illegal menace, there seems to be no solution in sight.

Humane Touch, a NGO which had launched a campaign against alcoholism in 2008 in Ferrar Gunj Tehsil with support from Police Department was quite successful in curbing the menace of illicit liquor in the whole region.

There were so many lacunae in the way cases were booked against the bootleggers. The fine amount was pittance which they willingly paid whenever they were booked. It was a very demoralizing situation after all the effort put by the police in conducting raids. After prolonged deliberations, they found a way out. Book the habitual bootleggers under 110 (G) Cr PC,. which require such person to show cause why he should not be ordered to execute a bond, with sureties, for his good behaviour for such period, not exceeding three years, as the Magistrate thinks fit.

Every habitual bootlegger, with three or more cases against them were booked under this section and produced before Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and a bond of Rs 25000/- executed. In case of violation, had to pay Rs 25000/-or get a prison term of 3 months. It worked. A few of them were jailed, which was deterrent enough.

During a recent survey by Humane Touch, they could find many bootleggers active in Hope Town selling liquor illegally. When they approached Bambooflat Police Station, they were told that cases were regularly booked against the violators after conducting raid. What shocked was the number of cases filed under 110 (G). There were more than 5 cases filed against bootleggers of the area, a few of them repeaters. But, the SDM was so soft-hearted that they were all released. Even repeaters were not taken cognizance of. What's the use of a solution, when the officials let it pass?

Bamboo Bar at Bambooflat has been a perpetual nuisance for the area. There had been protests and objections against the bar. There are about 150 excise related cases filed under PS, Bambooflat in 2015, in which there are cases related with the bar. However, when it comes to renewal of bar licenses, it is learnt that no report is sought from the Police by the District Administration.

On the one hand, we show much concern for rising trends of suicides. And in a small Island society, if we are unable to ascertain the causes, aren't we acting like ostrich. The intricate relationship between alcoholism and suicides in our Islands is not  a fairy tale.

Any voice raised against this scourge is dubbed idealistic. The irony is that when voice against a bar is raised, wellwishers come out harping that the protestors are sponsored by bootleggers, and when voice is raised against bootleggers, they accuse the activists to be on the payroll of bar-owners. And, there was a time, when the district officials too enjoyed the show, when supporters of the bar-owner including politicians would throng in the District office voicing their support. In fact, the bar owner once even conducted a signature campaign and why would any alcoholic not sign? After all, prohibition is just a directive principle in our Constitution under Article 47.