Madurai: Taking serious note of the minors taking to drinks, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday suggested the installation of closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in Tasmac bars to bring down the crimes. It also ordered the State government to respond to a public interest litigation seeking a direction from the court to restrict the working hours of retail alcohol outlets, bars and pubs.
Expressing concern over minors taking to drinking alcohol, a division Bench comprising Justices: N. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar observed that Tasmac bars alone were not the only means to augment revenue in the State.
The Bench asked the government to file a counter and adjourned the case to February 28 for further hearing.
Moving the court, the petitioner, advocate B. Ramkumar Adityan, stated that even minors including school children were getting exposed to alcohol. Though this caused socio-economic problems, nothing had been done to prevent it, he contended.
He prayed for a direction to restrict the working hours of retail alcohol outlets, bars and pubs in the State to six hours from 2 pm to 8 pm.
He further sought a direction to liquor outlets not to sell alcohol to those below 21 years of age.
The details of the liquor, quality of ingredients, price and address ofmanufacturer must be printed on the label of bottles.
