Bars will be liable if customers are caught drunk driving in Gurgaon

GURGAON: Cops in the city have started telling bars and restaurants that it's their responsibility to ensure no customer drives back home drunk. The directive, which invokes Section 168 of BNSS, has specified that owners will be held accountable if their customers are caught driving under the influence.Police commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora confirmed that notices had already been sent out to establishments across the city. According to them, bar and restaurant owners must now deploy staff to monitor their customers, arrange cabs or special drivers for those who have been drinking for long, and ensure that no intoxicated patron is allowed to drive away."Failure to comply will result in strict action against the particular facility," a police official said.

The move follows a spike in road accidents in the city, with 333 fatalities recorded in 810 crashes during the first nine months of the year. Police said the new measures were designed to save lives by reducing reckless and intoxicated driving. The initiative also aims to reduce the need for frequent police checkpoints, as the responsibility shifts to businesses serving alcohol.

The order came directly from state police chief OP Singh, who held a review meeting at the city police commissioner's office on Saturday.

Singh instructed police officials to ensure that all bars and restaurants displayed clear warnings or ran electronic tickers in their parking areas to remind visitors of the dangers and consequences of drunk driving. He also called for heightened police vigilance around high-performance vehicles and superbikes, which are often linked to unruly behaviour. Singh also emphasised that while road safety was paramount, police should ensure that their action did not inconvenience the public.

He asked officials to behave courteously and remove checkpoints from areas already monitored by CCTV cameras, allowing law-abiding citizens to travel without unnecessary hassle."People buy vehicles to enjoy their lives, not to be harassed at checkpoints," he said at the meeting. Singh highlighted the need for better road signage across the city. He instructed officials to install clear signs in appropriate locations, with Hindi text to assist those unfamiliar with English.Beyond road safety, Singh addressed the growing threat of cybercrime, urging citizens to remain vigilant against online scams. He announced that the cyber police unit was being strengthened with advanced technology and additional staff to combat digital fraud more effectively.