Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has directed pubs, bars, clubs and other establishments serving alcohol to strictly verify the age of customers amid growing concerns over alcohol and substance abuse among teenagers.
Minister Priyank Kharge instructed the police department to ensure that age verification is made mandatory at all pubs, bars, breweries, lounges and clubs in Bengaluru. Entry must be denied to individuals who fail to produce valid identity documents, he said.
The minister also directed authorities to take stringent action against establishments found serving alcohol to minors. CCTV cameras installed at entry points must remain functional at all times, and owners, managers and licence holders will be responsible for preserving the footage, he added.
The move follows a study conducted by St. John’s Medical College, Christ University and Kasturba Medical College. The survey, which covered 4,093 students in Bengaluru, found that nearly 33% were at risk of alcohol abuse, while 18% were addicted to tobacco.
Describing the findings as alarming, Kharge said some children were falling prey to substance abuse at a very young age.
“The safety and future of children cannot be compromised for commercial gain. Serving alcohol to minors is a crime, and the Karnataka government will follow a zero-tolerance policy against such violations,” he said.
