Public drinking rises in Palampur area as enforcement dries up

The illegal sale and consumption of liquor in public places such as dhabas, restaurants and tea stalls across Palampur and nearby areas has become a regular practice, flourishing unchecked due to administrative inaction. Liquor is openly served even in the presence of locals, with no significant deterrent from authorities.

This practice has spread across several regions including Baijnath, Jaisinghpur, Maranda, Alampur, Thakurdwara, Bundla and Gopalpur. In addition to these public eateries, groups of youths can often be seen consuming liquor in parks, forests, riverbeds and roadside areas, especially near tourist attractions like Bindravan, Gopalpur, Saurabh Van Vihar, Neugal Café, and roads leading to Kandi, Jhakhni Mata, and Bundla. This not only creates a nuisance for residents but also disrupts tourism.

Despite repeated complaints by locals and social organisations, little has been done by the authorities to address the problem. A police officer admitted that liquor is being illegally sold at various small shops and roadside establishments. Though raids have been conducted and several people arrested, the culprits are often released on bail due to legal loopholes.

In rural areas, the situation is worse. The state Excise Department has failed to maintain regular checks, allowing liquor to be sold even at vegetable shops and hotels, blatantly violating provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Excise Act. This unregulated trade is not only harming public order but also causing massive losses to the state’s revenue.

Both the police and the Excise Department are aware of the gravity of the situation but have failed to take consistent action. A major reason cited is the severe manpower shortage in police stations. Despite a sharp increase in population and crime over the past two decades, the police force has not been adequately increased, limiting their ability to conduct effective raids.

Local licensed liquor contractors expressed concern, revealing that large quantities of illegal liquor are being smuggled into the region from Punjab and Chandigarh without paying excise duty or licence fees. As a result, it is sold at nearly half the official price, hurting both legitimate businesses and government revenue. Several contractors claimed they have suffered huge financial losses in recent years, with even their invested capital being wiped out due to rampant smuggling.

Himachal Tribune