Unusually long 9.5-day dry spell before polls hits West Bengal; Kolkata bars report losses

KOLKATA: Park Street fell silent on Monday as people coming in to the restro-bars thinned out after the curb on liquor ahead of the state assembly poll.

By late afternoon, most restaurants had put up the ‘Dry Day' or ‘Bar Closed' posters. Many who visit their favourite joint on Park Street for a drink or two before heading home from office were not pleased with this ‘sudden' ban on liquor when there are nine more days ahead for the city to go to the polls.



Even other visitors who were on Park Street on work with no intention of grabbing a bite and drink were wondering why the ‘Dry Day' posters were put up so many days ahead of the polls. Kolkata goes to the polls on April 29.

"As far as we know, liquor shops have to remain closed one or two days ahead of the polling day, during which restaurants also cannot serve. We are unable to understand why such curb is being implemented so many days ahead of the polls?" wondered Anik Kar.

The finance firm executive came to Olypub along with two colleagues after office only to be told that the bar is closed till further notice.

"While this measure could be to curb streaks of violence by some under the influence of alcohol, how is it being implemented in Kolkata now whereas the first phase of elections is in the districts?" said Manish Ranjan, who came to a restaurant with a friend.

Friends Ketan Gaurav and Indrani Mondal, who came all the way for some work from Kalyani, were to catch up with friends in a Park Street restaurant. The duo said they came to know about the prohibition only upon reaching Park Street. "If there is a prohibition, we will be meeting over some food," said the duo.

Monday started as a usual day even for managers, bar tenders and other staff members for the restaurants lined up along Park Street. They were also taken aback when they were informed to put up the ‘Bar Closed' notices.

"While the business for the owners will be hit hard, people like us depend on tips largely, which we are likely to lose for nine to 10 days in this unprecedentedly long prohibition," said a gatekeeper at one of the restaurants.

Restaurant managers said that even as the footfall remains low on the beginning day of the week, it was all the more thinner on Monday. Even as places like Trincas had its live band on, TOI found just four clients spread over two tables. Whether it was Bar-B-Q, Oasis, Mocambo or Tung Fong, the scene was the same.

"We got the notification only in the late afternoon. All my restaurants are half-empty. It is pretty bad, and it sends a wrong picture for our city. I have never experienced such a thing before," said Charles Mantosh, owner of Waldorf and Floriana.

Across West Bengal, authorities have enforced an unusually long, uninterrupted dry spell of around nine-and-a-half days starting Monday in the run-up to the elections.

The directive, issued by district administrations, has taken both the hospitality sector and consumers by surprise. While Election Commission officials maintain that only the standard 48-hour pre-poll dry period is being implemented, senior excise and administrative officials say the move follows verbal instructions from those supervising the polls in the state.

Officials monitoring the elections flagged a sudden spike in liquor sales, raising concerns over possible voter inducement and prompting alerts to the excise department.

With nearly 5,000 bars and retail outlets in operation and daily sales estimated at Rs 80–90 crore, the financial impact is expected to be severe. Industry estimates suggest losses could exceed Rs 1,400 crore statewide, including nearly Rs 900 crore in Kolkata alone.
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