Sober enough to party late?

Pub, police figures show Mumbai has learned to enjoy responsibly. As bar owners ask for an extended deadline, MiD DAY reports from Ground Zero of the city's nightlife

Pub, police figures show Mumbai has learned to enjoy responsibly. As bar owners ask for an extended deadline, MiD DAY reports from Ground Zero of the city's nightlife

Should the stringent 1.30 am deadline the bane of both partygoers and pub owners in Mumbai be extended?

Encouraged by the healthy changes in Mumbaikars' attitude to partying, pub and restaurant owners have decided to appeal for an extension.

The current deadline not only leads to loss in business, but also falls short of international standards, they say.

"Mumbai is a tourist destination. If pubs are made safe, there is no harm in extending the deadline," said Narayan Alva, president of Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association. Even some politicians agree.

MAKE IT LARGE, MAKE IT LATE

Drinking and driving has gone down. Party hearty Mumbaikars have become more responsible. For all that, Mumbai is still put to bed early.

Now, encouraged by these healthy changes in city's attitude to partying, pub and restaurant owners have decided to appeal for an extension to the 1.30 am deadline.

This deadline, followed by most pubs and restaurants, not only leads to loss in business, but also compares unfavourably with international cities, they say.

"We will approach the home department very soon with the proposal of extending the deadline. Mumbai is a tourist destination. If pubs are made safe, there's no harm in extending the deadline," said Narayan Alva, president of Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR).

On the floor: Mumbaikars feel party animals are now more responsible and want the city's night life to return to its former days of glory. representation pic

Shailesh Agarwal, owner of On Toes Pub at Juhu, said, "Pubs and eateries should be allowed to remain open till late in the night, as Mumbai is known for its night life."

Sushant Kamath, partner of Bootleggers pub in Colaba, echoed Agarwal's sentiments. "By the time people come in, it's time to shut. Since Mumbaikars have such busy schedules, why can't we have an extended deadline?" he asked.

The proof

Restaurant and pub owners are convinced that Mumbai is now ready to party safely. Pointing out that the drive against drinking and driving had led to a 40 per cent drop in alcohol sales, Dilip Joshi, director of the nightclub Poison, Bandra, said, "People who used to drink three glasses of vodka now drink just two or have shifted to lighter drinks." Joshi revealed that tipplers were now going to pubs near their homes to avoid driving (See More proof).

Sources at Bling, the nightclub at Leela Kempinski Hotel in Andheri, corroborated this.

The police too agreed that there had been an improvement. "Night crime and accident cases too have gone down to a large extent," confirmed officials.

The answer
State Home Minister Jayant Patil, however, remained non-committal. "As of now we have not got any such appeal. I won't be able to comment on what action we will take unless we get the appeal," he said.
"The government should not interfere in such trivial matters. People have become responsible. Let us be. We know what we are doing," said PR executive Sajam Abraham.

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