There is a saying in Urdu: “Peene walon ko peena kaa bahana chahiye..” (Boozers need an excuse to consume liquor). And the “bahana” came in the form of ICC cricket world cup tournament.
Everywhere in the country, liquor had flown like water in the last few days, when Indian cricket team beat Pakistan in semi-finals and then Sri Lanka in finals.
Everybody was on the streets holding liquor bottles as if he, himself, had held the world cup in his hands.
There was media report that in eight hours of Saturday, people of Mumbai had consumed 1.8 lakh litres of liquor. I am sure liquor consumption in Hyderabad was much higher. The liquor shops across the city were open till 2 am on Saturday night (early hours of Sunday) and there were long queues in front of every shop. Certainly, the liquor shops made a killing overnight by jacking up the prices, taking advantage of the heavy demand from the people.
And the less we talk about the bars and restaurants, the better. Even at Gachibowli stadium, where thousands of people witnessed the mega sporting event on the giant screen, beer and liquor bottles were reportedly sold like water bottles and soft drinks!
Surprisingly, the police department has turned a complete blind eye to the free flow of liquor till late hours. Normally, liquor shops are expected to remain open only till 11 pm, while no liquor should be served in authorized bars and restaurants after 10.30 pm.
As per the rules, consumption of liquor in public places and open areas is strictly prohibited. And drunken driving should be viewed seriously and those violating this rule are liable for heavy penalty.
But all these rules have gone for a six on Wednesday and Saturday night. The police did nothing to stop revelers from drinking openly, dancing on the streets and holding up traffic for hours late in the night. They could not force the liquor shops open; nor was there any attempt to check serving of liquor in bars. On the other hand, the cops used the opportunity to make a quick buck from shop owners either in the form of cash or liquor.
After all, the government also needs to step up its revenues; and the excise is the best way to fill up the coffers. And more such tournaments are held as frequently as possible, the better for the state government.
When there is such a frenzy and madness, there are bound to be accidents. One could notice at least a dozen road accidents on the Hyderabad roads on Saturday night, as the revelers lost their control in their inebriated state.
No doubt, India winning the world cup is a memorable event. No doubt, people feel like rejoicing. But there is a method in madness. While allowing the people to enjoy, the government should have ensured that rules are strictly followed. Let the people enjoy their drink indoors, but certainly not on the streets causing inconvenience to many others.
Having said all this, I must say there are not many people who agree with me on this!
