Delhi assembly passes new excise bill with stringent fines

New Delhi, Dec 14: Drinking in public places in the national capital will now invite a hefty fine, and in addition if you are a nuisance then a three-month jail term will be slapped, according to a new bill passed Monday.

The Delhi legislative assembly Monday passed the 'The Delhi Excise Bill, 2009' which will ensure strict punishment for those producing spurious liquor and a stringent fine for those consuming liquor in public places.

"Under the new bill, mixing noxious substance with liquor is punishable with death or life imprisonment and fine upto Rs.10 lakh in case death is caused as a result of such an act," said an official statement.

"In case of disability or serious hurt the imprisonment would be between six years and life imprisonment with fine upto Rs.500,000. These offences are bailable in the existing act and involve imprisonment upto three years and a fine upto Rs.2,000," the statement added.

Earlier this year, the national capital witnessed several deaths due to spurious liquor.

"For consumption of liquor in public place, the present punishment fine upto Rs.200 has now been made more stringent," the statement said.

After the new bill is notified, the consumption of liquor in public place would invite a fine upto Rs.5,000, consumption of liquor in public place resulting to nuisance would result in imprisonment upto three months and fine upto Rs.10,000. Facilitating drinking or assembling of unsocial elements on the premises of liquor establishment would result in imprisonment upto six months and fine upto Rs.50,000, it said.