Excise dept serves notices to liquor outlets on highways

The excise department hasserved notices to 114 liquor shops in Dakshina Kannada districtas per the Supreme Court directive to shut down all such shops in a 500 metre distance from highways.
The Apex Court had observed that easy access to liquor onhighways led to accidents as many drivers buy and consume alcohol while driving leading to accidents.
While the Courthad set the deadline for closure as April 1, the state excisedepartment had extended it to June when the licence for shops will expire.
There are liquor shops on national highways atSuratkal, Baikampady, Kuloor, Nanthur, Pumpwell, Thokkottu andTalapady in the district and all of them will have to beclosed down.

Action would be taken against those who failed tocomply with the directive to close the shops by June, an official release here said.