Pune: Licences of 68 hotels, pubs to be cancelled: State Excise Department’s proposal to District Collector

Serving liquor to minors, using hotel premises for the service, sale without licence to cost dearly

Pune: The State Excise Department’s Pune division has woken up from its slumber after the hit-and-run case. It has taken penal action against 142 hotels in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for serving liquor to minors, serving alcohol on the hotel premises and selling the intoxicant without a valid permit.

The department has sent a proposal to cancel the licences of 68 hotels and pubs to the District Collector. If it is found during checks that minors are served liquor, their licences will be cancelled. This was revealed by Sujit Patil, DySP, State Excise Department, Pune Division.

The government machinery got startled after the hit-and-run case. The department thoroughly inspected all pubs and hotels in three weeks after citizens and the media raised their voice against malpractices in the department.

Officials acted against 142 establishments for serving liquor to minors, serving it on their premises and selling it without due permission. Now, they have sent a proposal to the District Collector to cancel licences of 68 hotels and pubs for serious violations.