Drinking in Mumbai? Time to get a permit or face the fines!
Jun 6, 2012, 5:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Posts: 136
Drinking in Mumbai? Time to get a permit or face the fines!
Just noticed this article, sounds that party mood in Mumbai might be getting drier 
"Archaic law threatens to dampen Mumbai's spirits"
City authorities are cracking down on illegal drinking after busting a rave party in one of Mumbai's posh neighbourhoods last month.
A 63-year-old prohibition law requiring every adult above the age of 25 to get a drinking permit exists in Maharashtra but it's never been taken seriously -- until the rave party hogged media headlines.
I am heading again to Mumbai soon, interesting to see if my hotel bar is asking for permit or selling one for me?
Full story on Reuters' site: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...85405V20120605
"Archaic law threatens to dampen Mumbai's spirits"
City authorities are cracking down on illegal drinking after busting a rave party in one of Mumbai's posh neighbourhoods last month.
A 63-year-old prohibition law requiring every adult above the age of 25 to get a drinking permit exists in Maharashtra but it's never been taken seriously -- until the rave party hogged media headlines.
I am heading again to Mumbai soon, interesting to see if my hotel bar is asking for permit or selling one for me?
Full story on Reuters' site: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...85405V20120605
Jun 6, 2012, 6:20 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
Back in the day - or even now - in Pakistan, you can't get a drink unless you have a medical certificate - and an endorsement in your passport - that says you're an alcoholic.
I think the entire english cricket team got one of those endorsements sometime in the 80s just so that they could get a beer on a tour to pakistan.
I think the entire english cricket team got one of those endorsements sometime in the 80s just so that they could get a beer on a tour to pakistan.
Jun 7, 2012, 2:16 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,673
Just noticed this article, sounds that party mood in Mumbai might be getting drier
"Archaic law threatens to dampen Mumbai's spirits"
City authorities are cracking down on illegal drinking after busting a rave party in one of Mumbai's posh neighbourhoods last month.
A 63-year-old prohibition law requiring every adult above the age of 25 to get a drinking permit exists in Maharashtra but it's never been taken seriously -- until the rave party hogged media headlines.
I am heading again to Mumbai soon, interesting to see if my hotel bar is asking for permit or selling one for me?
Full story on Reuters' site: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...85405V20120605
"Archaic law threatens to dampen Mumbai's spirits"
City authorities are cracking down on illegal drinking after busting a rave party in one of Mumbai's posh neighbourhoods last month.
A 63-year-old prohibition law requiring every adult above the age of 25 to get a drinking permit exists in Maharashtra but it's never been taken seriously -- until the rave party hogged media headlines.
I am heading again to Mumbai soon, interesting to see if my hotel bar is asking for permit or selling one for me?
Full story on Reuters' site: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...85405V20120605
Jun 7, 2012, 3:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
Indeed, in my college days the rule only seemed to be enforced for the cops to extract some hafta from any students caught buying booze.
Jun 7, 2012, 9:51 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Back in the day - or even now - in Pakistan, you can't get a drink unless you have a medical certificate - and an endorsement in your passport - that says you're an alcoholic.
I think the entire english cricket team got one of those endorsements sometime in the 80s just so that they could get a beer on a tour to pakistan.
I think the entire english cricket team got one of those endorsements sometime in the 80s just so that they could get a beer on a tour to pakistan.
Interestingly enough, members of the current Union cabinet sometimes got cheaper (non-Asian) whiskey/scotch when it probably came via Pakistan than when it came into the Indian subcontinent via India directly.
Violation of liquor laws is not just an All-India thing.
Jun 8, 2012, 3:03 am
#7
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
Yep, the rule is dusted off whenever a cop wants to get nasty with college kids in Mumbai and some towns in MH. Been there, done that. Never got my permit though... definitely one thing to have!
My german Uncle (who was an alcoholic and turned dry in 1990) got himself a permit for GJ & MH for kicks in 2000 after I explained him what it was. There used to be an agent sitting at BOM domestic arrivals at the tourist info desk who issued foreigners the permits for free. Don't know if that is still around. It was a nice timepass activity if you arrived with foreigners in BOM while waiting at the luggage belt.
My german Uncle (who was an alcoholic and turned dry in 1990) got himself a permit for GJ & MH for kicks in 2000 after I explained him what it was. There used to be an agent sitting at BOM domestic arrivals at the tourist info desk who issued foreigners the permits for free. Don't know if that is still around. It was a nice timepass activity if you arrived with foreigners in BOM while waiting at the luggage belt.
Jun 8, 2012, 4:30 am
#9
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,162
Its not a sticker, but more a card:
in GJ:
The one issued by the tourist info counter in BOM looked like this:
A better goole image search will surely bring up better images.
in GJ:
The one issued by the tourist info counter in BOM looked like this:
A better goole image search will surely bring up better images.
Jun 10, 2012, 7:20 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NJ/NYC
Programs: AA EXP/LT Plat, SPG Plat/LT Plat, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, MR Silver
Posts: 2,786
At the GH Mumbai just a few weeks ago they started requiring these permits, even in the restaurants. Didn't even mention why they were putting these slips in front of us until we questioned it.
Jun 22, 2012, 12:58 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: ORD
Posts: 746
http://in.vfsglobal.co.uk/pdf/liquor_permit.pdf
http://mumbaicity.gov.in/htmldocs/liquor.htm
Note the penalties...
Possession, consumption, or transportation of alcohol in Maharashtra without a permit can get you fined to Rs 50,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to five years.
The permit only allows the possession, consumption, or transportation of up to twelve units of alcohol.
You must be above 25 (30 in the district of Wardha)
The flip side is most hotels can issue permits for non indian passport holders...
And from a recent news article wine shops as well...
http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ne-shop-owners
http://mumbaicity.gov.in/htmldocs/liquor.htm
Note the penalties...
Possession, consumption, or transportation of alcohol in Maharashtra without a permit can get you fined to Rs 50,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to five years.
The permit only allows the possession, consumption, or transportation of up to twelve units of alcohol.
You must be above 25 (30 in the district of Wardha)
The flip side is most hotels can issue permits for non indian passport holders...
And from a recent news article wine shops as well...
http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...ne-shop-owners