Thaindian News

Bangalore, June 16 (IANS) Karnataka has no plans to increase the minimum age for drinking from 21 years to 25 years as was recently done in neighbouring Maharashtra, Excise Minister M.P. Renukacharya said Thursday.

“There is no proposal to change the existing rule that liquor can be served only to people who are 21 years and above,” he told reporters here.

Maharashtra’s June 1 decision to raise the minimum age for consuming alcohol to 25 years from 21 years has evoked mixed reaction. Hindi film actor Imran Khan has said he would challenge the decision in court.

Karnataka government earned Rs.8,084.72 crore from excise revenue in 2010-11 and has targeted revenue of Rs.8,516.28 crore in the present financial year (April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012).

On the row between his department and Bangalore police over women serving liquor in bars, Renukacharaya said there was no restriction as the state high court had cancelled the government order banning employment of women for such jobs.

He said only about 50 of the over 800 bars in Bangalore have women to serve. “There is no confrontation with the police on the issue,” he said.

Bangalore police had early this month raided a few bars employing women bartenders and said they found the women were being forced into “indecent acts” by the owners. They had warned of banning employment of women in bars if the illegal activities continued.