Maharashtra to ban those below 21 from pubs, bars

The Maharashtra government yesterday banned persons below the age of 21 from going to pubs, beer bars and permit rooms. The ban will be implemented from April 1 this year.

"Children below 21 years will not be allowed in pubs, beer bars and permit rooms from April 1," state excise minister Anil Deshmukh told reporters here.

Asserting that the government has banned liquor and wine shops from using names of gods and goddessess for their establishments, Deshmukh said permit rooms, wine shops and beer bars will "have to rename their establishments." "The decision will be implemented strictly from April 1," he added.

Six hundred bar girls, employees and customers were detained during raids in over 40 night clubs and bars last night at prominent places in north, central and southern Mumbai to crack down on flesh trade, obscenity that had flourished in these clubs, police said.

These bars were also found violating government norms by keeping the bars open beyond the stipulated time, they added.

The night-long operation carried out by all additional police commissioners and assisted by respective DCPs, was personally supervised by newly-appointed Mumbai police commissioner A N Roy who is reported to have conducted some of the raids, sources added.