The Supreme Court has delivered its final verdict. From tomorrow, liquor vends within 500 metres on national and state highways will no longer be able to do business. The Court has reduced this distance to 220 metres in areas that have a population of less than 20,000.
This spells bad news for several pubs, bars and lounges that line the Eastern Express highway and the Western Express highway, both of which lead out of the city. These places are favoured haunts of several citizens.
The Supreme Court had earlier, in its 15 December 2016 order, banned all such vends located within 500 metres of highways. The SC bench said that the verdict was given, to prevent road accidents occuring due to drunken driving.
The apex court today gave its verdict on the back of pleas that sought a relook at the December verdict.
With the ban now effectively coming into force from 1 April, Mumbaikars can no longer expect to get their regular tipple from their favourite spots lining the highways.
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