Cabinet to decide on location of liquor stores, bars

SHILLONG: The Excise department is preparing a Cabinet memo to have clarity on the minimum distance between liquor shops and places of worship and schools.

Excise Minister Zenith Sangma told reporters recently that the proposal is to have a minimum distance of 100 meters between liquor shops and religious places or educational institutions.

Sangma admitted that so far there are no clear cut guidelines on the restriction to be followed for setting up of liquor stores.

There is a mushrooming of liquor shops in parts of the city and several of them are also very close to the religious places and educational institutions.

“Our intention is to see that there is no disturbance to the places of worship and educational institutions by setting up of liquor stores very close to them,” Sangma said.

The Excise Minister said that after the approval of the Cabinet on the guidelines related to setting up of liquor shops, the Government will initiate action against the erring liquor stores and bars.

However, the Minister indicated that the proposed if implemented, will not have any retrospective effect and added the rule will be applicable to the newly opened liquor shops.

According to Sangma, there will be some complications if the Government cancels the licenses which had already been granted.

The Government recently fixed the legal drinking age as 21 years and also decided to make it mandatory for bars and liquor shops to display a notice restricting the sale of liquor to anyone below the minimum age.

To a question on whether the Government will dismantle the liquor shops set up all along the National Highway as directed by the Centre, the Minister said that he needs to cross check on the matter.

He also expressed concern over youths driving under the influence of liquor at Shillong Bypass which has already evoked criticism from many quarters.

“The police should check this to minimize accidents,” Sangma added.restriction,