Hyderabad, June 29: The city police read the Riot Act to star hotels on Tuesday and warned them not to serve liquor beyond permitted hours. Even 24-hour coffee shops cannot serve liquor beyond the stipulated time. The managements of the star hotels have also been asked to ensure that no drugs and fire arms are allowed inside. They have been asked to look out for drunken driving to install signs reminding visitors and guests to choose one person in a group as a “designated driver” who will not drink and drop the others home.
The police had recently booked cases against the Park Hotel at Panjagutta and Hotel Green Park at Ameerpet under the Excise Act for serving liquor after midnight. An excise official said, “If the coffee shop of a star hotel is not in the liquor consumption area then they shouldn’t serve liquor.” The police commissioner, Mr A.K. Khan, met around 70 representatives of star hotels. He warned the hotels of legal action if liquor was served beyond permitted hours.
“As the hotels are doing business in the city, the interests of the city should be kept in mind. While renting out a hall in the hotel for a marriage, the management should ensure that the organisers don’t take out any baraat on the road and they should restrict themselves to the hotel. They should ensure that no vehicles are parked on the roads,” said Mr Khan. Hotel managements were also asked to install security equipment and keep them in working condition. “Any foreigner staying at a hotel has to be registered with the agencies concerned. All other foreigners except Pakistanis and Bangladeshis have to be registered with the FRRO and information regarding the latter two will have to be sent to the special branch of the Hyderabad city police,” he said.