Bars will close at 1:30 p.m., confirms home minister

Bars will close at 1:30 p.m., confirms home minister

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 15:  Home Minister V. S. Acharya has not approved the Excise Department’s proposal to extend bar closure timings from 11:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. He informed reporters that no such proposal was brought before the state government. After taking into consideration the law and order situation in various cities, the home ministry has decided that it will not approve the extension of bar closure timings to 2:00 p.m. 

A few days ago, Minister for Excise M. P. Renukacharya informed reporters that the bar closure timings might be extended to 2:00 a.m. following pressure from star hotels in Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Mangalore, and other cities. The minister had also said that the extended timings will fetch more revenue because a number of tourists and business delegations visited these cities and stayed in star hotels. 

The Excise Department’s proposal to extend bar closure timings has enraged Shankar M. Bhandari, the Bangalore Commissioner of Police. 

Dr. Acharya said that the decision to keep the bars and restaurants open till 11:30 p.m. was taken following the Bangalore blasts of July 8, 2008. He said that he has discussed the matter with Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa. There is no proposal to extend bar closure timings, he confirmed.