Revised liquor policy a bane

Trimulgherry: The revised liquor policy of the State government has not gone down well with the residents staying in the vicinity of the wine shops in parts of Secunderabad.

In this particular incident, people living in the neighbourhood of Shiva Wines at Trimulgherry have complained that the erratic timings are causing inconvenience to them. It may be recalled that the government issued an order permitting the liquor shops to continue their trade till 11 pm increasing their time by an hour.

With permit rooms getting filled up in no time, people are moving out to the adjacent lanes or in front of the wine shop to consume alcohol in the open making it difficult for the passersby.

Navneeta, a resident said," I am a housewife and I have a daughter who goes for tuition in the adjacent street for which she has to pass by the wine shop.

It gets very embarrassing as people in the inebriated state touch inappropriately and we don't know what to do at that point in time. Earlier, I used to request my daughter's tutor to escort to my home but how long will the tutor also perform it like some additional duty as she is also a woman. So, I joined her in a learning centre near our house to ensure her safety."

Moreover, residential colony welfare associations in the vicinity also narrate how the customers at the wine shop park their vehicles blocking the roads, causing heavy traffic congestions during night times.

Ravi, an IT employee said, "I travel long distances and by the time I want to reach home at the earliest, all these drunkards station their vehicles right in the middle of the road without even letting their handle locks be open. Most of the times, there is no police personnel in that area.

So, I really can't do anything but get down the cab and walk down home. Sometimes if I get too lucky, the passersby help me and the cab driver to move the vehicles aside. But this has become a regular nuisance.
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Even senior citizens have an issue with the wine shops running late at night as it is hindering their sleep and the brawls caused by drunkards are becoming a major cause of disturbance to the colony residents. Even the families of these people too have their own grievances.

"Earlier, the toddy shops or the liquor stores would run between 11 am and 10 pm. However, now, it is starting an hour early and closing an hour late. It is financially helpful for liquor shop owners and the State government, however, for common man, it is only creating problems. Fights in the family have become a regular feature. Who will take the responsibility if anything happens to them in a drunken state?" questions Ritu, a homemaker.