SAS Nagar, October 20, 2024:-  To stop underage drinking, Excise Department district Mohali has launched a massive operation in which many bars/clubs of Mohali  district were checked last night. For this purpose, various teams were constituted which raided several bars and clubs in Mohali and Zirakpur. As a result of this  threebars/clubs violating the norms have been challaned. 
     Divulging details, Assistant Excise Commissioner (Excise) Ashok Chalhotra said that in compliance with the strict directions issued by Additional Chief Secretary Excise, Punjab Shri Vikas Pratap and Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam, a special drive has been launched in Mohali district since last couple of days to curb the menace of underage drinking. He mentioned that as per provisions of The Punjab Intoxicant License & Sale order, 1956 under Order 17(8) and U/S 29 of The Punjab Excise Act1914, the sale and serving of the liquor to the persons below the age of 25 years is a punishable offence. He also emphasized that more than the compliance of the Rules, it is also the moral and social responsibility of all of us to ensure that the tendency of underage drinking is arrested.
Giving further details of last night action, he said that the team of Excise department led by Excise Inspectors, Gurinderpal, Vikas Bhateja and Gurpreet Singh conducted raids in clubs and bars in Mohali city and Zirakpur area. 
During the raids at Sector-79, Mohali, 02  bars namely Swagat Restroom Bar and Katani Restaurant & Bar and one bar in Zirakpur namely Delicious Food (Romeo-Lane) was found to serve the liquor to youths below 25 years of age. One bar has also been charged of deploying the waiters of age below 25 years for serving of alcohol. Therefore, these bars have been challaned under The Punjab Intoxicant License & Sale order, 1956 under Order 17(8) and U/S 29 of The Punjab Excise Act and their cases have been sent for appropriate penal action to Collector-cum-Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Patiala.
AETC Ashok Chalotra described that the Excise Department has been taking underage drinking very seriously and strict action has been taken against 09 clubs/bars in district Mohali for violating excise rules by serving liquor to youth below the age of 25 years in last couple of weeks. Acting tough on these violators, the licenses of three bars were also suspended for seven days and the remaining bars were fined Rs 1.35 lakh. 
Mr Ashok Chalhotra AETC warned all  liquor-contractors and bar licensees against selling or serving liquor to youth below the age of 25 years. He categorically mentioned that anybody found violating these norms and causing loss to the State revenue will not be spared and strict action shall be taken against violators.