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Gaurav Mishra

78 Ahata and Desi Kalari to Close in Gwalior: New Excise Policy Brings Challenges for Police

  • Posted 12 months ago
  • Lifestyle

In Gwalior, 78 English Ahatas and Desi Kalari will be closed from Saturday (April 1, 2023). On an average, more than 50 thousand people used to sit and drink alcohol every day in these premises. Under the new excise policy, after the closure of liquor vends and kalari, the challenge for the police on the road will increase. Those who drink liquor by standing in four wheelers near liquor shops will have to be controlled. Not only this, the police will also have to increase vigilance on deserted roads and parks near liquor shops. After the closure of the premises and kalari, now the amateurs will be able to buy liquor from the liquor shop, but will not be able to consume liquor. The police have also geared up. Checking will be done around liquor shops from Saturday. Due to which strict action will be taken against those who consume liquor on the roads and those who drive drunk.

Starting on April 1, 2023, 78 liquor shops and Desi Kalari in Gwalior will be closed. On average, more than 50,000 people would consume alcohol daily in these establishments. This new excise policy presents a challenge for the police on the road, as they will have to control those who drink liquor while standing in four-wheelers near liquor shops. The police will also need to increase vigilance on deserted roads and parks near liquor shops.

After the closure of the premises and Kalari, amateurs will be able to buy liquor from the liquor shop but will not be able to consume it on the premises. The police are gearing up for this new policy, and checking will be done around liquor shops from Saturday. Strict action will be taken against those who consume liquor on the roads and those who drive drunk.

For a long time, former Chief Minister Uma Bharti campaigned for the demand of prohibition in Madhya Pradesh. This year being an election year, there was a lot of pressure on the Shivraj government. The Shivraj government had to take women’s votes into account and could not ban liquor because the revenue from it is essential.

gwalior liqour shop



Therefore, the Shivraj government has taken this new initiative. Due to the change in excise policy for the new session, which will be implemented from April 1 in the whole of Madhya Pradesh, the Ahatas and kalaris have been closed since Saturday. There are 78 Ahata and kalaris in Gwalior, and on average, 50,000 to 55,000 people would consume liquor every day. Of these, 20 percent will shift to beer bars, but 80 percent of people will consume alcohol on the streets, which will be a challenge for the police.

The Excise Department, which controls country and English liquor business, initially operated Kalari for country liquor customers and beer bar for English liquor customers. For the last five years, for English liquor, the premises for the drinkers were made next to the liquor shops. From last year, country and English liquor started being available together at Ahatas and Kalari under the composite system, and now these Ahatas and Kalaris have been closed.

Bars were starting to close, with 36 to 31 remaining. This new policy presents a challenge for the police, but it is a necessary step towards reducing alcohol consumption on the streets and improving public safety.

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