Bhubaneswar: There has been a significant increase in the consumption of Liquor The data shared by the Commissionerate Police showed that there is nuisance in public places and by alcoholics in the capital city.
While only 2,414 people were caught and fined for drinking alcohol in public places in 2020, according to the data, the number of such offenders has already increased to 4,714 in the first six months of this year.
Drunks were caught in parks, roadside eateries, under flyovers and outside liquor shops. The police fined each violator between Rs 200 and Rs 500 and recovered around Rs 19.27 lakh from them from January to June this year. In various police stations, 697 people were fined in January, 420 in February, 760 in March, 535 in April, 1,004 in May and 1,298 in June.
In 2020, the police had collected around Rs 12.25 lakh as fine from 2,414 people for drinking alcohol in public places. Police blamed poor enforcement for the Covid outbreak. A police officer said, “We carried out enforcement against alcoholics in public places in January, February and March last year and collected a fine of around Rs 10 lakh. But the enforcement was stopped due to the outbreak of COVID. Our focus is on proper containment of Covid. behavior and enforcing the lockdown.” said.
The police said their enforcement accelerated this year resulting in an increase in the number of violators apprehended as compared to the previous year. After the evening, all the police stations have been asked to intensify patrolling.
Police said citizens can alert them about people drinking and creating nuisance in public places. The police officer said, “We are not claiming that those who were earlier consuming alcohol in public places have stopped drinking. They may have changed their places. to inform if they consume alcohol in public places.” Police said many people avoid the bar because they cannot afford it. “They prefer to buy liquor from shops and choose different places to drink with friends. We caught most of the youth near parks, behind paan shops and empty houses,” the official said.
While only 2,414 people were caught and fined for drinking alcohol in public places in 2020, according to the data, the number of such offenders has already increased to 4,714 in the first six months of this year.
Drunks were caught in parks, roadside eateries, under flyovers and outside liquor shops. The police fined each violator between Rs 200 and Rs 500 and recovered around Rs 19.27 lakh from them from January to June this year. In various police stations, 697 people were fined in January, 420 in February, 760 in March, 535 in April, 1,004 in May and 1,298 in June.
In 2020, the police had collected around Rs 12.25 lakh as fine from 2,414 people for drinking alcohol in public places. Police blamed poor enforcement for the Covid outbreak. A police officer said, “We carried out enforcement against alcoholics in public places in January, February and March last year and collected a fine of around Rs 10 lakh. But the enforcement was stopped due to the outbreak of COVID. Our focus is on proper containment of Covid. behavior and enforcing the lockdown.” said.
The police said their enforcement accelerated this year resulting in an increase in the number of violators apprehended as compared to the previous year. After the evening, all the police stations have been asked to intensify patrolling.
Police said citizens can alert them about people drinking and creating nuisance in public places. The police officer said, “We are not claiming that those who were earlier consuming alcohol in public places have stopped drinking. They may have changed their places. to inform if they consume alcohol in public places.” Police said many people avoid the bar because they cannot afford it. “They prefer to buy liquor from shops and choose different places to drink with friends. We caught most of the youth near parks, behind paan shops and empty houses,” the official said.
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