Minister Srinivas Goud warns pubs against drug abuse

Says the premises will be closed permanently if any such activity is found

Hyderabad: Prohibition and Excise Minister V Srinivas Goud on Monday made it clear to pub owners that no one can protect them if any activity pertaining to drugs was found on the pub premises. Interacting with the pub owners here, the Minister said the department came to know that drugs were being consumed extensively in pubs and if any pub was found to be indulging in such activity, the premises would be closed immediately.

The managements should be careful and take the necessary steps to prevent the use of drugs in pubs. The officials of Police and Excise departments would regularly conduct surprise inspections to prevent drug abuse. The Minister said Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao already directed the Police and Excise departments not to spare even the elected representatives’ children if they are found with drugs. The Chief Minister asked officials to wipe out drug menace from the State. “There are many ways to earn money. However, any attempt to earn money through the sale of drugs will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that those indulging in the sale of drugs cannot escape from the law enforcement agencies. He advised the managements of pubs to be more firm and ensure that those visiting their pubs would not indulge in the sale of narcotics. The Minister asked the officials to display toll-free number 18004252523 more prominently in pubs to enable people to inform officials about drug transactions.

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Decrease sound levels
The managements should also focus on the clients who are consuming cigarettes and how many people are sharing them. They should also reduce the music system volume levels and avoid any inconvenience to the local residents. The department would take a serious note if any official was found to be negligent while discharging their duties, the Minister said.

He asked the managements to immediately alert the department if they come across anyone indulging in drug transactions. This information would enable the police to immediately detain such persons.

The Minister said the law and order was completely under control in the State and curfew was not imposed in the last seven years. “Hyderabad means confidence. But some people were smuggling marijuana from Andhra Odisha Borders (AOB) and transporting it to other States from Hyderabad,” he said. The department was invoking the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against marijuana peddlers and sending them to jail, he added.

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