Highway liquor ban: Centre considers presidential reference on SC's order

Stakeholders are already questioning the applicability of the verdict to their own establishments

While the Centre is considering seeking a Presidential Reference on the recent Supreme Court judgment banning the sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways, stakeholders are already questioning the applicability of the verdict to their establishments. 

One view taken by the liquor lobby is that the apex court’s order does not apply to hotels, restaurants or bars, but only to retail liquor stores. Supporting this argument is the fact that the judgment does not explicitly mention the type of enterprises to which the restriction applies, and instead uses the term “liquor vends”. 

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