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Prohibition: Impossible

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Preface

In India recently the Hon'ble Supreme Court ordered a ban on sale of liquor within 500 metres of highways. A large number of liquor outlets got closed across the country, badly affecting liquor business, state revenue and tourism sector.

Although a well-intentioned order, it may be flagrant breach of the basic constitutional principle of separation of powers between the legislature, executive and the judiciary. The court may seem to believe that acting in public interest, as a guardian of people’s rights, its powers are unfettered. However, such outright overreach may prove to be highly problematic for the entire system of governance in the country.

Story

Opposite Shiv Murti at National Highway 8 at 22.36 Hours on 01.04.2017

Shamu Shamu look ahead there is a trailer Shamu...Shanu

Cherr Cherr Cherr( Shamu applies break ).........Boom...Boom.... Fattack... 

Power break of Audi Q7 could not avoid accident and it collided with the big trailer of carrying Maruti cars coming from road of Uppal Orchid.

Flash Back

April 01, 2017 in mid air at 35000 Square feet above sea level in British Airways flight. A young Punjabi blonde Air Hostess with Pretties face in the sky sweetly asks in Punjabi to Arun who is relaxing business class comfort: Sir may I pour you another glass of this vintage wine?

Arun: No no thanks, I don't need more.

What about you the gentle lady?

Yeah I would prefer another glass of sparkling wine.

Wife Anita to Arun: In which deep thought you are involved dear and why are you not taking your favorite wine.

Arun: You know I am meeting my best pal Ajay after a long time. I prefer to enjoy drinks with today evening in Delhi. If I take more of wine, I wont be able to have a long drinking session with him, for which I am waiting.

Anita: I understand you and your underwear friend Ajay enjoy drinks in two some company. By taking another glass of wine would not become hindrance to your evening drinking session. You know I have also called my old girl friend at hotel and I would also drink with her.

Arun: You are right my sweet heart but I am dying to have the best of cocktails of Marriot at Aero city with Ajay. You please carry on.

Anita: This means you would be sitting in Bar then I may call my friend at our suite room. I am going to buy a Bombay Sapphire Gin from British airways duty shop. 

Arun: Why you are still ordering same local Gin of London, why don't you try some other drink? Bombay Sapphire you are taking since ages.

Anita: I am not like you of trying new ones, I stick to old ones. Don't I love you my old hubby.

Arun: We are at peak of young @56 and not so old darling. 

Anita: I am sure that @56 you must have tried and used 'Ab Tak Chhapan'

Arun: Oh got it you are talking about Bollywood movie 'Ab Tak Chhapan' of Nana Patekar.

Anita: Don't become so smart with me, anyways Should I order a Blue Label for you from Duty Free?

Arun: No need, As I have meetings fixed during our stay and we would be taking taking in bars only. By the way which of your Pretty friend is coming today to meet you.

Anita: Same Sulekha to whom after meeting your happiness was clearly visible from your pajamas, last time.

Arun: Don't be naughty. I think you were more happy to see my happiness last time proving myself to be fit and fine. Darling why you are so mean, you are telling me about Sulekha coming when I am already tied up with Ajay.

Anita: Choice is yours you wish to enjoy your fantasies and sweet feelings with Sulekha or cocktails with Ajay.

Arun: No doubts I would prefer my drinks with Ajay.

Flight lands safely at Terminal-3 at Delhi Airport. With the excuse of going to rest room, Arun calls up Ajay and tells him to reach hotel half an hour late as Sulekha is coming.

In the room after taking bath Arun sprays his favorite perfume.

Anita: Of my dear oldie is this for Sulekha or Ajay?

Arun: Whosoever comes first.

Room bell rings and Anita opens the door to welcomes her school friend Sulekha, who is looking still matured beauty of thirties beating cycle of fifties (As per Arun's thoughts & expressions)

Arun: Hi Sulekha there are other school friends also waiting for you.

Sulekha comes and hugs tightly to Arun and says while applying kiss on his cheeks: Oh my dear you are getting old, see the wrinkles on cheeks.

What a HUG

Arun: It is not wrinkles, it is the maturity of men. You look still young like me but I noticed something sagging, while hugging.

Sulekha: Arun ji it is not called sagging. It is the gravitational force which is attracting my big assets to the grounds.

Arun: Strange few years back also gravitational forces was of same magnitude and why it is attracting more now the same assets of yours.

Anita: You don't watch spiritual channel in this age of ours, we come to know that everything is to be buried or put into ashes in ground. That is why we excite to be attracted more to the ground. This applies to men too. Their standing ovation days too get over and their hanging to ground days start in fifties.

Anita: You both are really very quick in replying, your responses are instant.

Sulekha: You are right I felt the instant response of saluting when Arun hugged me.

Anita: You are right he is quick and mostly work like super fast train 'Shatabdi Express'

Sulekha: Arun you should be patient you know slow and steady wins the race. 

Arun: Shatabdi is for daily passengers, if you permit for you I am ready to be a luggage train.

Sulekha: Most of luggage train are lying idle in India. They only work once they start.

Anita: Oh guys it is enough of it yaar. Should I leave you alone for sometime. By the way Arun now you are not getting late for your drinks with Ajay;

After enjoying again the hug and formal kisses of Sulekha, Arun leaves for lobby to meet Ajay and enjoy drinks.

After tight hugs in lobby both rush for the bar and are astonished to read the placard at the entrance of bar. 

'In response to orders of Hon'ble Courts the Bars would remain closed with effect from 01st April 2017' 

Manager comes and apologies for this same and confirms his inability to serve any drinks in bar or restaurant. He says that he is too disturbed since noon dealing and informing about no drinks to the guests. Foreigner guests are unable to understand this illogical move. Some guests cancelled bookings and some have even shifted to some other hotels in city, which are not near to highways. 

Arun: It is strange dear that who are these persons to take a decision on our behalf that what we have to drink or eat? It is purely our own choice and decisions.

Ajay: I don't know about western countries but here it is so.

Arun: Is this the law passed by parliament, where voters elect and send their elected representatives. 

Manager: No sir it is the Hon'ble Court orders not the set law of government. 

Arun: Do you mean to say that if any selected decision makers do not like drinking water then they can ban all public to drink water.

Manager: Sir I am so small to explain. I just got orders from management and I am forced to follow. I know that this would not only bring losses to our hotel but to exchequers too. 

Manager politely takes leave with an excuse to attend some other guests.

Arun: Yaar Ajay, why did you confirm meeting at bar, when it is closed.

Ajay: I didn't know all this dear. Let us go home.

Arun: No not at home yaar, let us go to some other bar which should be open.

Ajay: Then let us go to 'Farzi Cafe' at Cyber hub. They have variety and make superb cocktails.

Arun: How is the food?

Ajay: That is also good. any ways we have got vide choices of drinks and food at cyber hub. Let us go there.

Arun: Yeah I remember last time we  both went to ' Wine company' Okay let us not spoil our mood and go to cyber hub. But are you sure their bars would be opened.

Ajay: Why not it's not on highway.

Ajay calls his driver Shamu and both go to cyber hub in Audi Q7. Getting out at cyber hub, Ajay directs Shamu to have dinner nearby.

Both go to Farzi Cafe to find same story of bar closed placard. They try at Wine company but that is also not serving any hard drinks. They ask the manager about which bar should be opened. Manager says today is first day of bar closure so there is confusion about distance from highways. He suggests may be Claridges bar is open, it being on first floor so its bar entry must be out of prescribed distance condition.

They try at Claridges too but alas no drinks. Waiter suggest them to try at top floor at Soi7, perhaps they are serving craft beer. His logic is craft beer is freshly brewed beer so it may be out of restriction of hard drinks.

Logic or no logic frustrated friends try at Soi7 too but again bar is closed. While thinking about where to go they cross the next restaurant and find   three well dressed persons having drinks in the open. Out of curiosity Ajay asks them is there any bar open my dear friends.

One of them reply bars are closed but one person is selling bottles at black/premium nearby on the terrace itself. Ajay offers to go to connaught place for drinks and dinner but Arun says let us go back to our college days of enjoying Rum on terrace of hostel.

Bootlegger offers them Black Label @7000/- per bottle. Ajay asks for any brand of single malt and a pint of it and no full bottle. Bootlegger replies he only has Khambas (Full bottle) in stock and Glendivit is at a price of 8000/- Rupees.

Rise in Crimes Due to Prohibition

Ajay: Price is not an issue, what is the guarantee that bottle will be original.

Bootlegger: Sir now a days honesty is only with people like us. Police do get cut from us but they also force us to serve only genuine bottles. You be least bothered about quality, it is original imported and with stickers of excise department. 

Arun: We believe you dear friend. Be frank should we take in open terrace, won't it attract problems for us.

Bootlegger my name is Rajiv and I am here only, be assured no body would disturb you. You feel relaxed and enjoy drinks. Soda, water and glasses are on board. Just to give you more comfort, you may pay me later after drinking.

Arun: Rajiv, we believe you and personal question, how come you are so confident about no raids by police or excise official.

Rajiv: Sir they are partners in our business. Families of seniors of both are enjoying hospitality of my masters downstairs at Hardrock. Relax and enjoy.

Ajay pours two glasses and offers a drink to Rajiv in third glass.

Rajiv: No no sir, I am enjoying my own.

Arun laughingly says Rajiv it is because we wish to check the quality of Glendivit, it may not be  genuine drink. I read in news that last year after drinking liquor seven people lost their eyes. We are testing on you as we love our eyes too much.

Ajay: Rajiv he is just joking. Actually we wont be able to consume full bottle so we offered you as courtesy.

Rajiv who got interested to have two drinks. As it is well known fact that a tea totaler would refuse another cup of tea but a drunker would never refuse for a peg or two even if he is already drunk.

Three Men Drinking & Discussing Prohibition 

Rajiv: No sir now I will do drink and prove you that we sell genuine products. 

Ajay pours drinks for all three and both of them think that they had won a match of getting drinks in prohibited area. it is an Indian attitude of enjoying the breaking of law. that is another issue that laws are so absurd that one is forced to break laws. 

Arun: Rajiv, why this prohibition order is passed.

Rajiv: Sir, I am a small man to comment and the hearsay is that Courts wanted a big share of flourishing liquor business. They know everyone it may be corporate, excise official, police or politicians everyone is minting money in this poison business but they were not getting their own due share. 

Arun: I did not get you how come they earn by closing this liquor business rather killing business revenue.

Rajiv: Sir you are mistaken, prohibition increase profits. Bihar is clear cut example you may have read alst week news that a bottle of Black Dog is being sold @4500/- whereas before prohibition it was 1500/- 

Ajay: He is right Arun, once there was prohibition in Haryana too that sent liquor prices touch the sky.

Rajiv: Sir prohibition in Haryana was also politically motivated by killing three birds with one stone first of minting money and second of alluring women voters and third of creating local mafias, which is again a money & power machine of politicians. 

Ajay: Yeah I remember how Gurgaon was mushroomed into a mafia hub with so many gangs becoming operational in those days. 

Rajiv: Sir this time problem is more difficult, this order is not politically motivated. It is from Court.

Arun: See when politicians, administration and police get out of control, Courts have to interfere.

Rajiv: I am a very small mouth to debate in such high issue. You may be right sir but I am giving you the hearsay discussions of bosses of this trade. They say Court passed this order because major sales of liquor is in these areas. They may have done so to blackmail the liquor trade. It was being discussed that a major lobby of liquor makers made a consortium and offered a huge sum but they did not agree and passed prohibition in these specified limits.

Prohibition In 1930's

Arun: Suppose we agree to your hearsay logic then when they were getting money, why did not they recall their orders.

Rajiv: Sir with due respect, it may be that the amount offered was not proportionate to their demanded price.  

Arun: They would have increased the price to get desired favorable order.

Rajiv: That is what being discussed in the lobby now. Now they are making a bigger consortium taking the share of money to be paid from bar owners also.

Ajay: Nothing is permanent here at least. Soon it would be over.

Rajiv: Sir in Gurgaon you may say so, because what I had heard is excise people in nexus with bar owners are finding way to increase the entry distance and making it more than 500 meters from Highways.

Arun: How is this possible.

Rajiv: Sir everything is possible with money power. They would change entry and exit gates. e.g. In Gurgaon two major huns effected due to this order are the Cyber hub and Sector 29 area. Both can change the gates and tilt area distance to their own sweet will.

Arun: Then you are contradicting yourself Rajiv, how would court earn in these deviations. Rather these officials and bar owners should be punished for this. 

Rajiv: I heard this that they tried to negotiate and increase the prices after taking bar owners in their cartel. But deal did not get mature due to price difference. Now the rumor is that bootleggers and mafia is one lobby which is on negotiation to carry on this order of prohibition and liquor lobby is one the second party to negotiate for reversal of of this order.

Arun: What is your opinion?

Rajiv: Sir again a small mouth and big saying I can't do. What I heard is that now it would be liquor manufacturers who have to take a call.

Arun: I think manufacturers don't loose in any case as both ways their product would be sold.

Rajiv: it is not so sir, illicit spurious liquor sales would emerge in B and C class cities. Mafia would gain more and manufacturer would loose the sales. 

Ajay and Arun bottoms up and make the payment due to Rajiv and thanks him.

Flight back to London

Arun while enjoying his vintage wine thanks again GOD and his parents for saving him and his friend Ajay in that terrific car accident.

Anita: Where are you lost my dear, I think you are missing Sulekha.

Arun: Not so dear actually I was thanking my parents for saving my life.

Anita: Drunken driving is really bad, it was all due to over drinking of Ajay's driver Shamu. You remember Princess Diana she lost her life in car accident in Paris due to over drinking of her driver.

Arun: I am just remembering song of 'Amar Prem' 

चिंगारी कोई भड़के तो सावन उसे बुझाये,

सावन जो अगन लगाए उसे कौन बुझाये। 

Anita: I could not understand how it is related to your accident.

Arun: I mean to say:

दारु पी के गाड़ी न चलाएं तो इंसान शायद बच जाए....

अगर ड्राइवर ही दारू पी कर गाड़ी  ठोके उसे कौन बचाये। 

Anita: I heard your all story but still could not understand if there was prohibition how could driver Shamu got so drunk and met with an accident. 

Arun: it was so that when we left Shamu in cyber hub, he went to Ahata (अहाता)in Cyber City at National Highway to have his quota of a quarter bottle. 

Anita: What is this Ahata?

Arun: It is authorized drinking place next to wine & beer shop.

Anita: You just said there was total prohibition at National Highway. Then why the hell Shamu went there and got drunk.

Arun: My dear Anita, you are not an exception from being pretty women as all pretty women get curious without listening to full talk. 

Anita: You are naughty after few drinks, Now I would make sure you don't get a repeat drink in aircraft.

Arun: haha. Anyways Ahata and wine shop were closed but Shamu was forced to buy a Pint (Half Bottle) instead of Quarter from bootlegger. He drank all the Half bottle in hurry which was double his quota and met with an accident due this.

Anita: It may be that what he drank was not a genuine drink.

Arun: I also feel so that is why that accident. 

Anita: Why do system force Prohibition. It has been tried in many countries and it has failed most of the times. Isn't it better to educate people for balance drinking instead of prohibition.

Arun: You are hundred percent right. 

In the mean time Anita opens her Ipad and shows following data about prohibition tried worldwide but ultimately PROHIBITION became IMPOSSIBLE to carry on.

The earliest records of prohibition of alcohol date to the Xia Dynasty (ca. 2070 BC–ca. 1600 BC) in China. Yu the Great, the first ruler of the Xia Dynasty, prohibited alcohol throughout the kingdom. It was legalized again after his death by his own son Qi. 

In the early twentieth century, much of the impetus for the prohibition movement in the Nordic countries and North America came from moralistic convictions of pietistic Protestants. Prohibition movements in the West coincided with the advent of women's suffrage, with newly empowered women as part of the political process strongly supporting policies that curbed alcohol consumption.

Prohibition Never Works

In Canada it was for shorter periods but in Prince Edward Island, it was from 1907 to 1948.

1907 to 1992 in the Faroe Islands; limited private imports from Denmark were allowed from 1928

1914 to 1925 in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union

1915 to 1933 in Iceland 

1916 to 1927 in Norway

1919 in the Hungarian Soviet Republic, March 21 to August 1

1919 to 1932 in Finland 

1920 to 1933 in the United States

Arun: I am proud of you, my little baby with higher brains. This needs social education. 

You may say suppose in a certain state the level of air pollution is little more. That does not mean society should ban people to BREATHE. Rather they should educate people how to Breathe, how to purify the air and how to stop pollution.

Anita: I think in our great valuable incredible country there is only one item which is having no value.

Arun: What is that Me Lord.

Anita: Of course that is HUMAN LIFE.

........................end..................

Always Indebted & Grateful to my Parents (GOD).

Best Regards

© Pavan Datta

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction & providing general information. No persons used as characters in the story actually exist and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, Profession is purely coincidental. Persons, Professions, locality, area, organizations, companies or products listed in the story are for the purpose of story development only and no actual attitude toward or connection with such is to be inferred.

While trying everything to ensure accuracy, this information is purely indicative for making story and should not be used for any decision-making. The Author is not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from the use of the information presented in this post.

Happy Reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


















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