Breweries and other establishments serving liquor, which have proliferated in urban spaces, must initiate rigorous age-verification protocols, be it through Aadhaar or other valid identification, at the threshold of entry, said the High Court of Karnataka.
The court said that another round of verification should follow when liquor is ordered by persons who appear youthful or underage.
Owners accountable
“When minors gain entry and order intoxicants, whether overtly served or covertly consumed, the management of such establishments cannot wash their hands off in indifference. The protection of youth is not merely a statutory mandate; it is a moral imperative. The managements of the places would be held accountable for any lapses,” the court noted.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna made these observations while refusing to quash a criminal case registered against V. Chitti Babu, a partner of Legacy Brewing Company, Rajarajeswarinagar, Bengaluru.
