‘No ID, no entry’: Karnataka launches major drive against underage drinking in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: In a move aimed at curbing rising concerns over underage drinking in the city, state govt Monday launched a stringent crackdown on liquor-serving establishments and directed police to issue notice to all pubs, breweries, bars, clubs, lounges, restaurants and other venues serving alcohol, instructing them to strictly prevent entry and service to underage persons. The govt has also ordered strict enforcement of age-verification norms and the “no ID, no entry” rule across such establishments.The directive comes close on the heels of a study conducted by researchers from St John’s Medical College, Christ University, Bengaluru, and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. The study, based on a sample of 4,093 students from PU colleges, undergraduate colleges, and higher secondary classes across four educational institutions in Bengaluru, found that one in three adolescents in the city are at risk of developing health issues due to alcohol or tobacco use.Based on these findings, home minister Priyank Kharge instructed cops to treat underage drinking not merely as a licensing violation, but as a serious youth safety and public health concern. “Children and youngsters must be protected from alcohol and substance abuse. Commercial establishments cannot place profit above the safety and future of our youth. Any establishment abetting underage drinking will face severe action,” Kharge said, while appealing to parents, teachers, citizens, and establishment owners to cooperate with police.The survey, according to sources, further revealed that 33% of young adults surveyed reported alcohol use, while nearly 18% were addicted to tobacco. This is significantly higher than the national prevalence rates of 8.7% for tobacco use and 7.9% for alcohol use, and also above Karnataka’s reported prevalence of 4.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The study also noted that the median age of alcohol initiation among Bengaluru adolescents is 17 years, with some reporting initiation as early as eight years of age.Key Directions from home ministerNo ID, No Entry: No person shall be allowed into pubs, breweries, bars, clubs, or liquor-serving establishments without valid age proofMandatory age verification: Establishments must verify govt-issued identification before permitting entry or serving alcohol.Strict action for violations: Establishments found serving liquor to underage persons or abetting underage drinking will be dealt with severelyAccountability of management: Owners, managers, licence-holders and event organisers will be held responsible for violationsCCTV compliance: Establishments must ensure CCTV systems are functional and footage is preserved for a minimum defined period to verify complianceSpecial focus on youth protection: Police will coordinate with educational institutions, parents, RWAs and citizen groups to prevent minors from being exposed to alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics