A fresh circular will be sent to bars in the city clarifying that breathalyser tests on patrons are not mandatory, a senior police officer said on Monday.
The clarification followed a meeting between a three-member team of an association of restaurant owners and the joint commissioner of Kolkata police (headquarters), Subhankar Sinha Sarkar, at Lalbazar.
“It was clarified to the association members that it was not mandatory for them to conduct breathalyser tests on their guests. We will issue a fresh circular,” an officer said after the meeting.
An order from Lalbazar on January 4 directed bars and restaurants serving liquor to conduct breathalyser tests on patrons to curb drink driving.
The order, which asked bar owners to “prevent intoxicated customers from driving” and make “necessary alternative arrangements”, had caused dismay and confusion among bar owners and patrons.
On Monday, the restaurateurs who met Sinha Sarkar explained the “peeve points” in detail. An officer of the rank of assistant commissioner was present at the meeting.
“We said we were ready to extend all help to curb drink driving. We offer driver services to our patrons. But forcing a breathalyser test can lead to law-and-order problems. He (Sinha Sarkar) listened to us patiently. He said he will issue a fresh order,” said Anirban Sengupta, co-owner of What’s Up! Café and secretary of the Kolkata chapter of the National Restaurants Association of India.
“The officers promised to amend the order and make it an advisory rather than a mandate. The members of the association, too, promised support in whatever way possible to educate the customers about the menace of drinking and driving,” said a spokesperson for the association.
Sengupta was accompanied by Varun Mimani, co-founder of Ozora, and Anirudh Poddar of Chai Break.
Multiple restaurateurs this newspaper spoke to said the previous order was “impossible” to implement.
“How can I ask a guest to take a breathalyser test? What if he has a driver? It is not possible for me to screen guests who have drivers and who don’t,” said the owner of a bar-cum-restaurant on Park Street.
The absence of valet parking facilities and big groups compound the problems, said owners.
“Four places I co-own serve liquor. Only one has valet parking service. Without that, it is impossible for me to know who is driving a car. Especially, if diners come in big groups,” said an owner.
