Bars may let the ball roll till the wee hours
The state government is likely to issue temporary permits to restaurants and bars to remain open and serve liquor into the wee hours of the morning for the duration of the world cup football.
By Nandini Raghavendra & Shuchi Vyas, TNN |
MUMBAI: The state government is likely to issue temporary permits to restaurants and bars to remain open and serve liquor into the wee hours of the morning for the duration of the world cup football.
Seven days before the FIFA World Cup, restaurants and pubs that have hitherto been focusing on marketing and promotions for this mega event, are waking up to this important part of the screening.
The Maharashtra Excise Commission has started receiving calls from marketing managers and GMs requesting them to extend the time limit on their licences beyond 1:30 am.
Most of the matches are slated to end between 1:30 and 2 am, but in certain cases where there are three matches per day this time period may get stretched by a couple of hours. Pubs and restro-bars would have to get the required temporary permits to remain open and serve liquor.
For the time being, most bars will shut at 1:30 am, which is the current limit, until the excise commission gives the green signal. “We are receiving requests from bars and pubs for additional licences and are considering these requests,” said N Sangitrao, excise commissioner, Maharashtra.
Other people familiar with the matter said that the department is likely to give permission for an extension. “If it is for half-an-hour or one hour, we will do it,” a person added.
The Taj Palace in Colaba will screen the matches till the time they are on but will stick to the deadline as far as the bar is concerned.
“We have requested the police for an extension on the licence so that we are able to capitalise on the marketing and renovation spends that we have put in,” said a manager at Bohemia, a Thai restaurant in Mumbai, Juhu.
Earlier this year, the Mumbai Police cracked down on popular bars and restaurants, urging them to obtain all the licences required to run operations.
“Our paperwork is on and we will do all that we can in order to stay open till the matches are completed,” said Prreya Relwani of The Sports Bar.
If the permission does not come through, other popular places will stay open only till the permitted time. Geoffrey’s, for instance, plans to take last orders by 1:30, but will screen the match till completion.
Seven days before the FIFA World Cup, restaurants and pubs that have hitherto been focusing on marketing and promotions for this mega event, are waking up to this important part of the screening.
The Maharashtra Excise Commission has started receiving calls from marketing managers and GMs requesting them to extend the time limit on their licences beyond 1:30 am.
Most of the matches are slated to end between 1:30 and 2 am, but in certain cases where there are three matches per day this time period may get stretched by a couple of hours. Pubs and restro-bars would have to get the required temporary permits to remain open and serve liquor.
For the time being, most bars will shut at 1:30 am, which is the current limit, until the excise commission gives the green signal. “We are receiving requests from bars and pubs for additional licences and are considering these requests,” said N Sangitrao, excise commissioner, Maharashtra.
Other people familiar with the matter said that the department is likely to give permission for an extension. “If it is for half-an-hour or one hour, we will do it,” a person added.
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The Taj Palace in Colaba will screen the matches till the time they are on but will stick to the deadline as far as the bar is concerned.
“We have requested the police for an extension on the licence so that we are able to capitalise on the marketing and renovation spends that we have put in,” said a manager at Bohemia, a Thai restaurant in Mumbai, Juhu.
Earlier this year, the Mumbai Police cracked down on popular bars and restaurants, urging them to obtain all the licences required to run operations.
“Our paperwork is on and we will do all that we can in order to stay open till the matches are completed,” said Prreya Relwani of The Sports Bar.
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If the permission does not come through, other popular places will stay open only till the permitted time. Geoffrey’s, for instance, plans to take last orders by 1:30, but will screen the match till completion.
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