I had heard the rumours for a while - the fact that you needed a licence to buy alcohol in Mumbai - but I had dismissed them as being surely an urban myth. The other day though, I was ordering a simple Kingfisher beer at the Breach Candy Club, when the waiter asked to see my Alcohol Licence. I stayed calm and managed to palm him off with my driving licence and an additional food order.
Having now investigated, i can confirm that this is no urban myth - under the 1949 Bombay Prohibition Act, a licence is required for all purchase, possession and consumption of alcohol in the state of Maharastra. Quite clearly this is a ridiculous law which serves only the police, who can use this as another excuse to ask for a bribe. This will serve nicely as the first of no doubt innumerable rules that should be repealed and make India just that little bit freer.
Having now investigated, i can confirm that this is no urban myth - under the 1949 Bombay Prohibition Act, a licence is required for all purchase, possession and consumption of alcohol in the state of Maharastra. Quite clearly this is a ridiculous law which serves only the police, who can use this as another excuse to ask for a bribe. This will serve nicely as the first of no doubt innumerable rules that should be repealed and make India just that little bit freer.
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