Weekend revellers in the city found their spirits dampened with bars in premium clubs and luxury hotels shut following the Apex Court’s order against sale of liquor on highways.
With the Supreme Court order banning liquor sales along state and national highways up to a distance of 500 metres covering larger establishments, popular watering holes in the city have had to down shutters.
Guests were in for a surprise as Gymkhana Club, Cosmopolitan Club, SVS were virtually declared dry. Major luxury hotels including the ITC Grand Chola, The Park, Le Royal Meridien, Trident, Radisson and Raintree Anna Salai had to deny guests the chance to unwind for the weekend.
Dr Palani G Periasamy, Chairman, Le Royal Meridien Chennai and Coimbatore said there could be “no two ways about safety measures on highways and roads”. But extending it to places within the city and hospitality establishments” was taking it a bit too far. This will have a “multiple negative impact” affecting jobs, tourism and business.
A bar is an essential element of star rating for hotels. If the major portion of a hospitality industry in the city has to shut down its bars, it is as good as implementing prohibition. Luxury hotels enter into a legal obligation when they book banquets offering cocktail and dinner, “what happens now?” he asked.
The State and Centre have to take up the issue and sort it out, he said.
It is chaos in the other districts in the State with the authorities exercising their own discretion in deciding on the distance from highways to shut down liquor businesses, he said.
The decision coming at the start of the peak summer vacation season is bad news for the hospitality and travel industry in cities. With international businesses in the city -- which prides itself as a manufacturing destination -- the ban will impact other sectors also, he said.
Meanwhile, hotels and clubs located off the highways on inner roads are seeing quite a rush.