• Is liquor a complete ban in the Gujarat state? AUS player's pic with liquor bottle in Ahmedabad sparks controversy

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    Is liquor a complete ban in the Gujarat state? AUS player's pic with liquor bottle in Ahmedabad sparks controversy
    It is to be noted that the Gujarat Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the state Assembly in February this year and subsequently became an Act in March...

    Digital Desk: Liquor ban in Gujarat is only on paper? Once again questions arise over the complete ban on liquor in the state after a photo of Australian player, Mitchell Marsh with a bottle of liquor went viral.

    Prohibition of liquor is only for the middle class? 

    "As people with political connections and all the 182 MLAs of Gujarat state have liquor permits and the poor drink hooch liquor (potli) and we see a hooch tragedy once every few months in the news..so it is only the middle class who is made a criminal if caught in possession of liquor," people stated.

    And now, after the India vs Australia World Cup 2023 final match in which Australia defeated the Indian side and lifted the trophy for the sixth time. One of the pictures from their dressing room celebration earlier raises a controversy for resting his feet on the World Cup trophy. You can also see in the picture Marsh holding a liquor bottle. 

    It is to be noted that the Gujarat Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the state Assembly in February this year and subsequently became an Act in March after the state governor O P Kohli gave his assent.

    A government announcement stated that in accordance with the Act's regulations announced today, the state government will establish a monitoring cell to uphold the state's prohibition on alcohol.

    Now, by calling the toll-free number, 14405, people may immediately alert the state administration to any unlawful behaviour involving alcohol. As stated in the announcement, people may also report suspicious activity to the state monitoring cell by calling its cellphone number, 9978934444. The identity of the caller will remain anonymous.

    As reported, the administration also stated that it will use social media to raise awareness in order to carry out the act in an effective manner. Additionally, information may be shared with the monitoring cell via its Facebook page, "SMC Gujarat," according to the announcement.

    The legislation stipulates that authorities who assist offenders in escaping during raids on bars, as well as bootleggers and tipplers, would face harsh penalties.

    A fine of Rs 5 lakhs and up to 10 years in prison are the penalties for making, acquiring, selling, or transporting alcohol, according to the statute. According to the statement, the prior Act only included a three-year sentence for this illicit behaviour.

    Similarly, people who run liquor dens and assist them might spend up to ten years behind bars.

    According to the statute, a person who causes a disturbance or harasses someone while intoxicated faces a sentence of up to three years in prison, not just one year.

    If proven guilty, police officers facing up to seven years in prison and a fine of Rs one lakh would aid bootleggers in making their escape during the searches.