Mangalore: Occassional Licence reduced to Rs 5,000

TNN

Mangalore, 27 October 2010: For Bacchus lovers celebrations that are incomplete without liquor will henceforth leave their purses lighter by Rs 5,000. The department of excise which hitherto was charging you Rs 11,500 for an occasional licence (OL) for that day has now decided to reduce it to Rs 5,000, courtesy excise minister Renukacharya.

 

The minister agreed with the assessment that Rs 11,500 was too hefty a fee for OL for a day. People can party and enjoy having a good time at their favorite restaurant for a fraction of the price, even after throwing in the booze, he said, adding that the OL in a way curtailed their rights to party in the comforts of their home.

 

 

The department threw in a monkey wrench by enforcing Section 15 (A) of Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 preventing consumption of liquor at unlicensed public places. People also had to pay additional licence fee of Rs 1,500. Though this Act does not prohibit consumption of liquor within private premises, for special occasions, police can step in if neighbours complain of a raucous crowd or the party goes beyond 11 pm.

 

In case the excise officials step in, the owner of the premises should have valid bill for purchase of duty paid liquor and the quantity should not exceed 4.5 litres per person. If the liquor is non-duty paid, then arrest is guaranteed. In case of a marriage hall, an OL has to be given by the excise commissioner or the deputy commissioner.