Tipplers can now enjoy their drink for longer as the state government is planning to extend the working hours of bars attached to the state-run Tasmac shops by another half-an-hour.

Taking cognisance of the nuisance to road-users caused by tipplers after 10 pm, the prescribed closing time of Tasmac shops, the authorities plan to extend the bar hours till 10.30 pm so that the customers have their final gulp inside the premises.

“Tasmac customers consume alcohol on the streets after the shops and bars down their shutters at 10 pm, leading to altercations between them and roadusers,” said an official.

There have been reports about drunken brawls for sometime now. In order to prevent such unnecessary clashes between Tasmac customers and others, it has been proposed to extend the working hours of the bars. “Henceforth, the shops will be closed as usual at 10 pm while the bars will remain open till 10.30 pm,” the official said.

However, there is no change in the timing of private bars, he clarified.

Department sources said the new working hours have already come into force in several bars.
“Tasmac bars in many places have already started functioning till 10.30 pm,” they added.

Presently, of the 6,600 Tasmac shops in the state, 4,539 have bar facility – some of them even air-conditioned bars. The government had reduced the working hours of Tasmac shops from 16 in 2006 to 12 from 2009 (10 am to 10 pm).

-dc chn