Excise crackdown on bars, clubs

Ramkrishan Upadhyay 

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 17

In a major crackdown on erring bars, clubs, restaurants and liquor vends, the Department of Excise and Taxation has imposed a penalty of more than Rs 12 lakh for violation of the provisions of the Excise Policy.

Source said a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each was imposed on three bars and restaurants for promoting liquor by giving offers not allowed under the Excise Policy. These bars and restaurants are Buzz, F Bar and Blue Ice in Sector 17. The bars were found giving liquor promotional offers to customers. 

Two clubs — Miami in Sector 9 and Rustic Door — were penalised for serving liquor without licence. A penalty of Rs 1.05 lakh has been imposed on Miami and Rs 50,000 on Rustic Door. The department has also issued notices to two more clubs situated in Industrial Area for serving liquor without licence.

Besides, the department imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each on seven vends found selling liquor below the price fixed by the department. 

Sources said Rakesh Kumar Popli, Additional Commissioner, Excise and the Taxation-cum-Collector under the policy, imposed the penalty on the erring clubs and the liquor vends.

The department carried out the check recently and found that different brands of liquor were being sold at cheaper rates. Notices under the Excise Policy were issued to them and penalties were imposed after hearing the violators.

Under the Excise Policy, the Administration has fixed minimum rates of each type of liquor. The decision was taken to prevent sale of adulterated liquor.

Sources said defying the direction, liquor vend owners started selling liquor below MRP to attract customers.

Sources in the department said the checking would continue in the coming days to check violations. 

Last year, Popli had suspended the licences of around 22 vends for two days for selling liquor below MRP. 

7 vends penalised for selling liquor at low price

• A penalty of Rs 1 lakh each has been imposed on seven vends found selling liquor below the price fixed by the Department of Excise and Taxation.
• The department had carried out checking recently and found that different brands of liquor were being sold at cheaper rates at these liquor vends. Notices under the Excise Policy were issued to them and penalties imposed.
• Under the Excise Policy, the UT Administration has fixed minimum rates for each type of liquor. The aim is to prevent sale of adulterated liquor.