MNVS stops ‘freshers party’ at pub; excise officials say minors weren’t served liquor

However, the excise department said that liquor was not served to underage children at the pub.

Dhananjay Dalvi, president of MNVS, Pune unit, said they informed the state excise department in Pune after learning that liquor was being provided to minors at the Kiki pub without checking their identity cards.

A group of MNVS activists stopped the party.

The state excise officials also reached the spot and started an inquiry.

“We demanded the state excise officials to check the CCTV footage at the establishment and conduct a proper investigation against the illegal activities going on at the spot,” said Dalvi.

Santosh Jagdale, deputy superintendent of state excise department said, “Our inquiry revealed that liquor was not served to underage children at the pub. But we found violation of other norms. Accordingly, legal action has been initiated against the establishment.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Pune city police issued instructions for the cops to inform all bars, pubs and similar establishments to check age through Digilocker documents before allowing entry to youngsters. “It has come to notice that certain bars/pubs are serving liquor to underage persons in violation of Excise rules. Moreover certain fresher’s parties for college students are being organised in such establishments which is against the prevalent rules,” the police commissioner stated.

Cops are also given instructions by the police commissioner “to inform the College establishments to alert and advise their students to refrain from participation in any such event and also inform the Event Managers that in case they organise any such event, they too will be liable for criminal action.”