Court Orders Bar Owners to Limit Alcohol Service After Pune Car Horror

In the wake of a fatal luxury car accident in Pune, a local court has taken a strong stance on alcohol service regulations. On Tuesday, the court remanded three accused – the owner and two managers of different bars – to police custody until May 24, following allegations that they served alcohol to a 17-year-old involved in the crash.

The tragic incident, which occurred early Sunday morning, resulted in the deaths of two individuals. The prosecution argued that the establishments served liquor to the underage driver and his friends without verifying their ages, necessitating the custodial interrogation of the accused.

During the proceedings, Additional Sessions Court Judge S. P. Ponkshe voiced grave concerns over the circumstances leading to the accident. “If the person is highly drunk, make arrangements for his stay there. What should people walking on the road do? Those who have come to the pub would not go home walking. They will go driving their vehicles. A change has to be there somewhere,” the judge stated, emphasizing the need for pubs and bars to establish clear limits on alcohol service.

The court’s directive highlights a critical aspect of responsible alcohol service, urging bar operators to consider the safety implications of over-serving patrons who might drive afterwards. “They must be aware how much should be served. Decide a limit on it,” Judge Ponkshe added.

The defence, represented by Adv. S. K. Jain, contested the need for police custody, arguing that under section 77 of the Juvenile Justice Act, the offense is non-cognizable, and that the investigation was already completed. Despite these arguments, the court upheld the police custody to ensure a thorough investigation.

The case stems from an incident where the accused juvenile and his friends allegedly consumed alcohol at the two establishments between 9:30 PM and 1:00 AM, before the fatal crash. The court’s intervention aims to prevent such tragedies by mandating stricter control over alcohol service in bars and pubs.

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