After Porsche Accident, Stricter ID Checks At Pune Pubs To Prevent Underage Drinking

In the wake of the Porsche accident allegedly involving a drunk teenage driver, commercial establishments in Pune have started to stringently follow rules related to serving liquor.

On Sunday, a 17-year-old allegedly rammed the high-end car into a bike, killing riders Anis Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, both 24, on the spot. Police said the teenager was drunk at the time of the Kalyaninagar mishap. While he was released on bail within 15 hours, the police took stringent action after flak from all quarters. The boy has now been sent to a juvenile observation home till June 5, while his father, real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, has been arrested. The family has now claimed that their driver, and not the teenager, was driving at the time of the mishap. Three executives of two hotels — Cosie restaurant owner Pralhad Bhutda and manager Sachin Katkar and Hotel Blak manager Sandip Sangle — who served liquor to the juvenile have been arrested. The collector has ordered indefinite closure of the two pubs. Since the accident, the Pune excise department has shut down 32 pubs, which they claim were running illegally.

Consequently, establishments have now started stringent checks of age proofs and spreading awareness about the rules for entry.

PubliQ in Koregaon Park, in a social media announcement, said: “At Publiq, we prioritize safety and responsibility. In light of recent tragic events in our city, we want to reaffirm our commitment to the safety and well-being of our community. At Publiq, we take our responsibility seriously and adhere strictly to all laws and regulations, including the legal drinking age. We have robust measures in place to ensure that no alcohol is served to underage individuals. Our team is trained and vigilant in checking IDs, and we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinking. The safety of our patrons and the community is our top priority. We strive to create a welcoming environment where everyone can enjoy responsibly."

According to a report in the Times of India, Agent Jack’s bar, which has branches in Baner, Hinjewadi, Amanora and on SB Road, has, in a statement, urged patrons to drink responsibly and carry a legally valid ID proof to be allowed entry and served alcoholic beverages at all our outlets.

According to a report in the Times of India, The Poona Club, in a message to its members, stated that it would follow all excise department rules about liquor consumption and that adults between 21 and 25 years will be served only mild beer and “it would be the responsibility of members to ensure that their wards below 21 years do not enter the club’s bar section".

Following the accident, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) Pune chapter on Wednesday held a meeting with city officials to discuss efforts.

Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar (TSKN), a residents’ group from the area, has started an online petition, ‘Rollback Pub & Restaurant End Timing to 11:30pm with Enhanced Law Enforcement’, seeking action from the authorities.

While the TSKN has organised a candlelight vigil at the spot on May 25 to protest against the inaction, the United Hospitality Association held a silent march at Rajabahadur Mills on Friday to protest against the targeting of the hospitality industry.

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