Four caught drinking in public every hour in 2018
The police said action was taken against 33,873 persons, who consumed liquor at public place, while the figure was 23,094 in the year 2017.
New Delhi: In a crackdown against liquor consumption at public place in the national capital, the Delhi police claimed to have taken action against almost four violators every hour in 2018, said Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik during the annual press conference.
The police said action was taken against 33,873 persons, who consumed liquor at public place, while the figure was 23,094 in the year 2017.
Also, 3,128 criminals were arrested under the Excise Act in year 2018, while in year 2017, the figure was only 2,753.
The police also recovered 5,74,470 illicit liquor bottles and registered 2,967 cases under the Excise Act in year 2018, while in the year 2017, the figure was 5,51,498 illicit liquor bottles and 2,688 cases .
Liquor was found to be the root cause of various criminal offences in the national capital, whether it was the shocking murder over refusal to give money for liquor in Vikarpuri on April 23 or another related case at Haridas Nagar area in November.
“Liquor clogs a person’s ability to think and make choices. It effects the judgmental and thinking power and reduce socially-defined rules of behaviour and gives a person greater courage to commit a crime,” said the police.
According to the Excise Act, anyone caught drinking publicly has to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 and anyone creating nuisance in public is also fined Rs 10,000 and awarded imprisonment of six months.
The Delhi police has issued guidelines, directing owners of all liquor shops in their jurisdiction to prohibit alcohol consumption outside their establishments and also install high-resolution CCTV cameras. The CCTV cameras must have night vision and should cover up to 50 meter area outside the shop, say police guidelines.