Action to be taken against banquets serving Haryana liquor

Tightening its noose around banquet halls, farm houses and motels in the city serving cheaper Haryana-made liquor, Delhi government has decided to register cases against owners flouting rules.
It is for the first time that the excise department will be cracking down on owners of these entities as currently, party or function organisers only have to face the music for serving Haryana-made booze.
The department has formed several teams to check parties, functions, where liquor is being served, at all farm houses, motels and banquet halls. Besides legal cases, government can also seal the entities found involved in such practices.

"We have got to know that most organisers get P-10 permit from the department to serve booze at banquet halls, motels and farm house, but to save money, they serve Haryana-made liquor which amounts to an illegal offence.
"In these cases, department presently takes action against only organisers of parties, marriage functions and other events only. But now, we have decided to register FIRs against those owners of banquet halls, farm houses and motels who allow the serving of such liquor at their premises. We can also seal their entities," said a senior government official.
The official said that it is also responsibility of owners of motels, farm houses and banquet halls to check such illegal practice at their premises.

"Officials of the excise department have been directed to carry out a drive to check the premises of farm houses, banquet halls and motels, where parties and functions are being hosted, across the national capital," official said.
The official also said that sale of non-duty paid liquor is a major offence under Delhi Excise Act, 2009 and even possession of such liquor amounts to a serious offence.