Six dry days in october beginning with the Mahatma's birth anniv make no sense, says his great grandson
Six dry days in october beginning with the Mahatma's birth annivu00a0make no sense, says his great grandson
In October for six days, beginning with Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, Mumbai and Maharashtra will go dry. While the Mahatma's birthday has traditionally been a dry day, the others are because of the elections.
For Indians already used to nine dry days in a year (see box), this will come as fresh information, but not surprise.
Tushar Gandhi, the Mahatma's great grandson said, "It's completely hypocritical and pointless to declare Gandhi Jayanti a dry day.
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People who want to drink will drink on dry days too. But if dry days actually help people, then I'm with the excise department's decision."
Yet, the excise department's decision means a drop in revenue by 40 per cent for bars and restaurants!
Though bars refused to give revenue figures, Anukush Bhatia, a hospitality professional, said, "It's not just
the six dry days. Because of Navratri, people abstain."
Why dry days?
City restaurants and wine shop owners echoed Bhatia's worries. The Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) said it had appealed to the excise department to cut down the number of dry days in a year, from nine to three.
"The whole nation celebrates Republic Day and Independence Day, but what's the point of declaring them dry days?
People have different ways of celebrating and stopping them from drinking is taking away their independence," grumbled Chandrahas Shetty, advisor to AHAR.
Shetty added that Gujarat, the birthplace of the Mahatma, does more illicit trade on October 2.
"We had appealed to the former election commissioner too, to abolish dry days during elections, but our demands were not taken seriously," said Shetty.
Three-star hotels and above are exempt from dry days, except during the election. Yet, even three days, affect them.
"This is bad for the hospitality sector as business slows down, especially when the industry is already in bad shape.
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It becomes difficult for hotels to say no to their guests," said S P Jain, president of the Hotel and Restaurants Association, western India.
Hotels have already decided to maintain the off-season room rate during the peak season due to a drop on tourist arrivals.
Added Freddy Ginwala, president, Maharashtra Wine Merchant Association, "Unfortunately we cannot help but comply.
The liquor industry will definitely face a huge blow as we have to bring our business to a halt for almost a week."
The Other Side
An official from the excise department who did not want to be named said, "We have no option but to enforce prohibition for the six days of October.
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We suffer a 20 per cent drop in revenue during these days, but unless we get orders to lift the dry day from the excise commissioner, we are obliged to follow existing stipulations.
Will you stock booze for the dry days in October?
No. I won't. In fact, I think it's a very good idea.
Naitik Patel
Businessman
I may have to stock up on
my favourite brand, as I don't want to compromise. It is better to stock up at home.
Shishupal Mishra
BPO employeeu00a0
I won't stock up as I am a social drinker.
Farrah Fernandez
PR manager
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