Regular visitors to pubs and bars in Telangana know that the show ends at 12 p.m. It extends to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. But if people are willing to shell out heavy loads of money, time is not a constraint to grab a peg at a few places in Hyderabad.
Around nine hotels, which are four stars or above, located in and around the city, hold the permission to serve liquor throughout day and night. Sources said that this boosts tourism.
A price has to be paid to drink at such places. “The price of a peg at such hotels is equal to price of half a bottle. But money is not a factor for people who can afford to drink liquor there,” said a person acquainted with the prices.
Usually, bars and pubs have to stop serving liquor at 11 p.m. And the establishments have to shut down by 12 p.m. One hour relaxation is given on Fridays and Saturdays, and on New Year eve.
Sources in the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department said that hotels which are four stars or above are eligible to apply for special permission to serve liquor throughout the day.
“The licence fee for such establishments will be 25% more than the usual, which is around ₹40 lakh. It increases based on the location. Even if someone wants to run a low grade bar, they have to pay around ₹40 lakhs,” said a source in the Excise Department. Elite visitors from other States and countries will not be constrained by time to drink at such places- a tourism boosting measure.
But would anyone check if there are any violations in the bars at such star hotels? Usually, the Excise Department teams conduct checks to verify if adulterated liquor is being sold, if the establishments are run in places mentioned in the licence application, licence expiry, narcotics consumption, and for other reasons. Such checks are conducted based on tip-offs. Possibility of random checks at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. were ruled out by Excise teams.
