Pune: No Underage Customers Allowed in Restaurants Serving Liquor on NYE
Pune, December 31, 2024: As the city gears up to welcome the New Year, the state excise department has implemented strict regulations to ensure safety and compliance across the district.
Restaurants and bars serving alcohol have made it mandatory to allow entry only to customers above 18 years of age with valid ID proof. A restaurant bar owner in Hadapsar, confirmed, “We have displayed a board at our entry gate stating liquor will only be served to those with valid proof of age.”
The state excise department has also revealed that 50 one-day licences have been issued for New Year’s Eve celebrations, enabling musical programmes to include the legal sale of alcohol. Charan Singh Rajput, superintendent of the state excise department in Pune, stated, “A licence is essential for supplying alcohol during such programmes, and action will be taken against any violations.”
In addition, special teams have been deployed at district borders to prevent the entry of counterfeit alcohol. So far, 386 arrests have been made at 314 locations, and 29 vehicles carrying illicit liquor have been seized. The excise department has warned that parties hosted at farmhouses, terraces, or open spaces must also secure necessary permissions for alcohol consumption.
To curb the illegal sale, transportation, and production of alcohol, the state excise department has stationed 21 teams on Pune’s roads. Meanwhile, liquor shops and bars in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad will remain open till 5 AM, and wine, beer, and country liquor shops till 1 AM, extending the usual closing time of 10:30 PM.
