Mumbai bars people below 21 from bars

The minister has also directed that the bars and liquor shops should immediately remove references of gods and goddesses from their names. 8216;8216;The department has received complaints from various people that their religious sentiments have been hurt with several city bars being named after Hindu gods and goddesses,8217;8217; he added.

Ironically, the Excise Department is itself confused over the minister8217;s diktat.

8216;8216;How can the bar owners determine if a particular customer is below 21 or not?8217;8217; wondered a senior officer. Needless to say, they are also short of staff.

The order says that if an underage drinker is caught, he will be asked to write a bond, saying the mistake will never be repeated. Also, the bar owner will be penalised and his licence cancelled.Asked if that is enough, the minister said: 8216;8216;Their parents will be informed8217;8217;.

More than 1,660 persons, including 823 customers, were arrested during raids on 52 bars across the city early this morning. Several police teams barged into the bars well past midnight to apprehend owners and customers flouting the statutory time limit of 1.30 am.

A member of the police party said customers ran helter-skelter when they realised they had been surrounded. They were later bundled and escorted to the nearest police station. The offenders were released immediately after coughing up Rs 1,200 as fine from each of them.