Extended deadline brings little cheer to city bar owners

Though cut-off time has been stretched, owners say high liquor prices hitting biz

Watering-holesu00a0 patrons in the city may have got an additional hour of indulgence at their favourite haunts, but none the happier are those who cater to them.u00a0This is because the leeway extended by the city police has given little heave to a business still grappling with the spike in prices. Recently, the cut-off time for serving liquor was stretched to 1.30 pm. Business across the city in nearly 7,500 eateries has dipped by at least 50 per cent owing to price rise, said tavern owners.


Not enthused: Bar owners say though patrons are happy they can
hang around till late, price rise has resulted in their placing fewer
orders. Representation pic

Santosh Shetty, owner of Sudama said it would take time before proceeds from the trade dotted the upward curve. "Though it's a welcoming change, we are still coping up with dip in sales because of the revised prices. The customers are, however, happy that we do not ask them to leave the premises early," Shetty said.
Sandy Singh, owner of a popular nightclub and restaurant in Koregaon Park, said: "Personally, we have registered marginal step up in business.

We are closing down at 11.30 pm because hardly any customers come in after that. The only difference is that those already in the restaurant can place their last order till late."Some others admitted the extension in deadline had cooled tempers, as owners did not have to order customers out of their premises. Ganesh Shetty, president of the Pune Restaurant and Hoteliers Association and the owner of Kalinga restaurant off Karve Road, said: "We had a tough time tackling pugnacious customers. Customers would squabble with us over their last order, but it's much better now. But we haven't started making money yet and it will be a while before profits increase."

A restaurant owner at Pimple Saudagar, said: "My business has picked up but not phenomenally. My area is buzzing with working professionals, who do not mind coming in late for a chilled draught. We do not have to send them off."

No crimes reported
The police were apprehensive before extending the deadline in the city fearing spurt in crimes. But Additional Commissioner (Crime) Anant Shinde said no alcohol-induced misdemeanours had been reported so far.