Aadhaar Made Mandatory Now For Entry Into Hyd Pubs:- The Telangana government, in addition to the already existing restrictions for an entry into a pub, has made Aadhaar card a must for pub hoppers now.

The identity cards, particularly Aadhar cards have been made mandatory by the Prohibition and Excise Department to get drinks in pubs in the city. This move of the Telangana government comes in the wake of several pubs coming under the scanner of the department for turning into hubs of sale and consumption of drugs and other psychotropic substances. This was detected during the investigation into the sensational drug racket case that involved several personalities from the Telugu film industry. The drug racket was busted in July.

The officials said that several transactions pertaining to cocaine, Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other drugs were carried out at some of the pubs in the city, with suppliers meeting their clients at pubs, which was found by the investigators. The department has asked owners of all pubs across the city to ensure that their clients carry their Aadhaar cards to prove their age. Those who are below 21 years of age will not be allowed into a pub.

Moreover, the managements were instructed by the government to maintain a separate register to enter details of those visiting their pubs. This would not only keep the underaged persons away from visiting pubs but also enable the department from easily tracing those found to be involved in drugs with the help of ID proofs, said the officials.

Excise Superintendent and SIT chief S. Srinivas Rao said the licence norms already stipulate that managements verify identity proof of those visiting pubs. “It’s not a new rule. We are only implementing an existing rule,” he said.

Earlier, warning letters to managements of 14 pubs in the city were issued by SIT, which had canceled the licence of F Club. A meeting was also conducted with representatives from the hoteliers’ associations on measures to be taken to prevent the drug menace.

SUPRAJA