Curb on Bangalore nightlife slows businesses ndtv Restrictions on Bangalore's nightlife, is hitting the business of partying very hard. Earnings have dipped as live music, dancing and even loud recorded music is not allowed to mix with drinking. Shankar Bidari, police commissioner said, "There are 1 crore people in Bangalore city. Their welfare has to be looked into." Looking after the safety and welfare of Bangaloreans means to authorities early lights out - a strict ban ending the city's nightlife at 11:30 pm. As Page Three people head out of the city to Mysore and Manipal, business in Bangalore seems to be at an all time low. Currently the law says: * Music can only be played softly and in the background. * Music cannot be played loudly in a place that serves alcohol. But with no thumping music to dance to and nothing to drink along, party-goers are staying away from nightspots. Ashish Kothare, president Association of Pubs and Restaurants, Bars and Hotels said, "Business has been down close to 70-80 per cent. First we will have to stop advertising, slowly we will have to stop hiring and then the worst we will have to start laying off people." The dance ban has also directly affected Bangaloreans like Rohit Barker, a DJ at some of the most popular watering holes in the city. Barker says he has not had a single gig in the recent past. Bangaloreans who are trying to make a living out of the rapidly disappearing nightlife are fighting back in a campaign called Bengaluru Bleeding but authorities are firm that they will have to earn their money some other way.

Most young guy says we want night life in Bangalore as with the western life. The new commissioner has become a 'villain' on their part. But, I believe the cons are more than the pros.

I was about to become victim to a guy who had his 'nightlife' and driving a Santro on empty road in full josh was about to hit me from back when I was walking on the roadside. I was feeling at that time why Government is not controlling this since I was on the receiving part of it.

Do we think that a person who drinks will not drive ? They show their josh only in driving. Can a person in the group go as a driver to the pub with his friends and do not have drink.

There are many who are living with low income and the main person in that family become addicted to this night life and spend all the income on the nightlife, what will be his family's fate?

In the name of the night life, 'other illegal activities' are also carried out. Example is the recent catching hold of people taking drugs in a pub.

One person, a BPO worker of Mphasis in TV9 interview was suggesting the Government should give transportation to those who go for nightlife!!. Our Government is unable to give good transportation for the office goers, for nightlife do we need transporation offered by Government to enjoy 'night life'?

Rich of Bangalore is quoting different reasons for the need of night life and saying they cannot live without it. Roti, Khapda,Makhan aur Nightlife?

This whole night life is blown out of prop! I dont see it as such a big problem. Whose stopping people from partying at home or in a friends flat? The deadline has been extended to 1 AM in many places - do we really need drunk idiots walking down MG road at 3 AM? Drinking and driving is still taken too lightly. Most offenders get away with 2-3 K as a fine and continue going home driving. That is NOT enough. They have to be jailed for the night, and put on remand! There are two kinds of night party goers, those who dont Drink and Drive and others who say "My tolerance level is higher, and I can drive." The latter is the biggest danger. And one cannot stop them without stopping the other. So better stop both. Regarding transport for Nightlife Goers - it sounds absurd! Is it the cities duty to make sure they leave you at your doorstep if your drunk? Try a Cab for Gods SAKE! Lastly, rules cant apply to sections of society. Maybe the high paying, page 3 crowd can get home in a chauffer driven car, but the offendors are more likely to be from smaller local pubs and bars. You cant allow some people to party and some not too!

There are two different issues here. One is Drinking and Driving - there is no question here - of course violators should be fined and arrested and the laws should be enforced. But this is just another thing that can be added to the litany of complaints one has about law enforcement. The other issue is nightlife - specifically the arbitrary banning of live music in bars. This simply makes no sense - just based on some antiquated rules and conservative mindset and some idiotic notion that listening to live music corrupts young minds. I wonder why the ban doesnt extend to a Carnatic music recital in a temple.... Finally, there is the 11.30 deadline. In the UK for years they had this - and in fact extended this only recently, a couple of years ago. The 11.30 deadline was disastrous. It didnt stop people from drinking - they started earlier and instead at 11.30 the streets were filled with energetic belligerent drunk people. Further, it encouraged binge drinking - people would order several drinks just before last call and then feel obliged to down them. If the deadline is later then it staggers the drunks - some will leave at 10, some 11 .... and so one wont have several drunk people on the streets at the same time. Admittedly we dont have as much of a drinking culture amongst the middle class in India - but its only a question of time. Another serious problem is not the legitimate drinking establishments - but these bars that crop up in liquor shops - quite often auto drivers drop in for a couple of quick ones before getting back to work and this is not exactly a good idea. I dont understand these people who say - it doesnt bother me so I dont care. I am reminded of the well known statement by someone shortly after world war two. `First they came for the Jews, and I didnt say anything as I was not a Jew. Then they came for the homosexuals and I didnt say anything as I was not a homosexual. Then they came for the Poles and I didnt say anything as I was not a Pole. Finally they came for me and there was no one left to say anything.' - While this may be a little over dramatic I think with the Vedike getting involved in moral policing - one can never say.

Worldwide stats report the same - alcohol and drugs don't mix well with driving. Its simple - we are different from animals in having a frontal lobe that regulates rage, fear and instincts (imagine living on these three alone). Alcohol takes out the frontal lobe (our CEO) and what is left is 'an animal within us - aka wild horse without reins'.

Every country has restrictions in some form, these change with time (and not just due to morals - it can be economics as tax on booze rakes in money for many).

I have seen the dark side of this all. Broken skulls, amputed limbs, dead bodies brought to hospitals (on hat-gadi). In the West we also see young women abused and the aftermath of it.

Restrictions if anything protect freedom. Its a tool to ensure that freedom is not abused. Its not about one individual's right taken away to make merry beyond 2330 (or what ever time it may be in other cities), its about safe gaurding majority of the populations freedom and right to be safe.

Finally, its not an adminstrative problem at all. Its a peoples problem, a social one solved by people. If inadequate road networks, a virtually non-existant public transport system, inadequate police force, and poor law enforcement especially on the road was the root of the problem - Western Countries like UK would not have as many deaths, accidents et al at all. In fact alcohol is one of the lergest contrbutors to anti-social acts of random violence, thefts, accidents in Western society which have best of infrastructures.

After a hard days work (which I am sure everyone on this forum has) we all want to unwind, and booze may well play its role, but rules-regulations-restrictions cannot be not respected. Its simple, if you plan to booze, take a rickshaw (driving because public transport is not there is no excuse) or a lift from someone who has not been drinking.

ASJ