38 Pune bars booked for serving smaller pegs

LMD books 1041 establishments across Maharashtra for cheating customers by serving less than the prescribed quantity of liquor

Several city establishments have been booked by the state government for cheating customers by serving less than the ‘prescribed’ quantity of alcohol.

The cases have been registered against many prominent bars, which were either serving less alcohol for the small/large pegs or using nonstandard peg measures. The cases have been registered by the Legal Metrology Department. The drive across Maharashtra was carried out between July 28 and July 30, wherein 1401 bars were inspected. Over 1041 bars were found to be flouting norms. Out of the 45 bars inspected in the city, 38 were found guilty.

In Pune, establishments like Allarella Food Pvt Ltd Kalyaninagar, Elephant and Co, Kalyaninagar, Apache Next, Ghole Road, Agent Jacks Bar, SB Road, Mainland China, SB Road, and Hotel Ritz Café, Shivajinagar were among the establishments booked by LMD for following substandard practices. Amitabh Gupta, Controller of Legal Metrology said, “Violations in the state include use of unstamped peg measures 30, use of not re-verified and stamped peg measures 626, use of non-standard peg measures 199, short delivery in liquor 5, and other violations 181. “The organisation will be collecting a fine of Rs 40 lakh towards it.”

“The intentions of all these bars was to compromise on liquor quantity served in pegs to customers and make more profit,” he said. The peg measures used for liquor should be as per the specifications, material and capacity as specified in the Legal Metrology (General) Rules 2011 which are made under Legal Metrology Act. 2009.

D L Kove, deputy controller, Pune region said, “Many bars and restaurants were found using peg measures that were not verified and stamped OK (mandatory as per norms) by LMD.” Many of them were using peg measures that had not been re-verified after

their first verification expired. Still others went a step further and were using non-standard peg measures, ultimately compromising on the amount of liquor served. If the bars approach the department and plead guilty within a certain time, they will be let off with a monetary fine (Rs 20,000). If they fail to do so, the department will file a chargesheet against them,” he said.

vicky.pathare@goldensparrow. com

Originally published on The Golden Sparrow