PUDUCHERRY: Coming down against bars, restaurants and wholesale/retail outlets dishing out offers such as 'buy one get one free', 'free liquor for women' or 'freebies on purchase of liquor' and displaying slides, banners, or boards, to promote the sale of liquor, the Puducherry excise department has warned of stringent action.
Tahsildar (excise) D Silambarasan in a release said advertisements to promote liquor sale in newspapers or through slides, banners or boards or offering gift articles have been banned as per Section 192 (sign boards) of the Pondicherry excise rules, 1970.
Silambarasan said it was brought to the notice of the department that a few bars, restaurants, wholesale and retail outlets were issuing advertisements on social media platforms and placing slides, banners or boards on their premises to promote the sale of liquor. The violators should remove such advertisements, Silambarasan said, warning that the premises would be monitored closely and stringent action initiated against the violators.
In December last year, scores of residents along with leaders cutting across political party lines had blocked the busy MG Road in Puducherry to protest against the opening of a resto bar that was located near a school and a temple and which had announced free drinks for women to promote itself.