BENGALURU: The city’s most happening address for pub crawlers and partygoers – 100-Feet Road in Indiranagar has gone dry the second consecutive weekend this week following a diktat from the Police Commissioner to shut shop because of a religious-cultural function in Bengaluru (East).
“This is the second weekend that we have been told to shut shop because of a religious cultural function in the area. Last week all liquor outlets in Bengaluru (East) were asked to close on Saturday because of the Halasuru Jathre. This weekend the city administration has again directed us to close from 6 am on Saturday (April 18) to 12 noon on Sunday because of the Kodihalli Pallaki. This is the first time that we have been told to close down because of the Kodihalli event. It’s a known fact that we have maximum footfall during the weekend, especially Friday evening and Saturday. With the two weekends knocked out from our business calendar it’s a huge loss not only the resto-bars and other liquor outlets here but also for the government,” rued Head of Bengaluru Chapter of National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), Ashish Kothare.
According to another pub owner the Excise Department allegedly “pushes” them to pick up more stocks of Indian Made Liquor than beer. “Beer sells more than IML and if the weekends, during which we are able to push IML sales are lost than it hits our business even more badly. We will be forced to pick up less IML stocks because we are unable to sell hard liquor at the pace, at which the government expects us to,” said the restaurateur.
There are more than 40 watering holes on 100-Feet Road, Indiranagar alone, which include liquor stores, high end craft breweries, pubs and bars. There are many more liquor outlets in adjoining areas of Halasuru and Jeevan Bhima Nagar, which also fall in Bengaluru (East).
