Delhi Pubs Cannot Play Recorded Music Anymore, Only Live Singing and Orchestra Allowed

The face of nightlife and pubs in the capital is all set to change with the new regulations imposed by the Delhi government. Resto bars that play recorded music in their premises will attract strict action from the authorities. As per the 2010 excise rules, the government issued directive states, restaurants serving alcohol are allowed to hold only “live singing or playing of instruments” by professionals. This move has come in after a lot of complaints were registered by the locals regarding the nuisance caused by the resto-bars.

Delhi has a not of clubs and resto-bars and most of them play the recorded songs in a bid to attract the younger crowd and customers. “L-17 (restaurants which serve food and alcohol) are only permitted for live singing and playing of instruments by professionals in their premises,” Delhi Excise Commissioner Amjad Tak told PTI. The directions by the department Rule 53 (4) of the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010 states that the L-17 licensee is allowed only for live singing/playing of instruments by professionals. There is no separate license for any pubs, all the restaurants who serve alcohol to their customers have to get the Licence-17 by the Excise Department.

Strict actions are taken by the teams of the department by visiting these restaurants who are violating the rules. Restaurants not complying with the rules are heavily fined. The department has received Rs 305.85-crore excise revenue in April this year while in the same month last year, the revenue was Rs 291.01 crore. The rules are applied very strictly in the last few days. So more of the resto-bars and pubs might resort to karaoke or live performances to add to the ambience.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2018 01:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).