HC asks Maha Government to list measures to curb underage alcohol consumption at Sunburn Pune

The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra government to list steps so as to ensure that those underage do not consume alcohol at the upcoming Sunburn music festival in Pune. The Maharashtra government has been instructed to file an affidavit listing the measures that the Bombay High Court proposes for the same.

Ratan Luth, a resident of Pune filed a petition seeking that the organisers of the event were not granted a liquor license. A bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Rajesh Ketkar was hearing the petition and also directed the government to take an undertaking from the organisers of the festival stating that they will pay all pending entertainment and related taxes from last year’s festival as well as the dues for this year’s event.

According to the plea, the Festival was scheduled to take place from December 28 this year to January 1 next year and around three lakh people expected to attend it. Several of those who attend the festival will be minors, school students etc and thus, the petitioners sought that the organisers must not serve liquor to ensure that no underage drinking takes place. Several news reports were also cited by the petitioner dating back to 2013 when the festival organised in Goa and a handful of instances of underage drinking and consumption of illegal drugs were reported. 

The organisers said that they had already sold several tickets, and booked international artists for the event and that they will ensure no laws are broken.

The state's counsel Abhinandan Vagyani told that the liquor counter will be at a distance from the stage and the main ground so that our police officials deployed at the spot can keep a check. Vagyani also told the court that the organisers had agreed to have a segregated and colour coded entry based on age groups. Those below 20 years will be given green bands, those above 21 but under 25 will have yellow bands, and those guests who are above 25 will have red bands to identify them. He said police will be deployed at the entry and exit points so as to make sure that the Goa story is not repeated again.

The bench directed Vagyani to put all his submissions in the affidavit by December 20. It also said the police must ensure that there was enough staff to maintain daily and law and order in the city as well.