Owners of established bars in places like Jhamshikhel, Thamel and New Baneshwar expressed dismay over the fact that they have been forced to close down before nine due to lack of customers. Yet, the bar owners seem happy with the growing afternoon liquor sales. Tara Ratna Sthaphit of Jhamshikhel based Chapter 9 Restro Bar said, “We used to be open till mid-night but since the customers´ turnout is really disappointing in the evening, we shut down before nine.” [break]
Dawang Lama, owner of Thamel based Fire Club said business during day time was up by 30 percent. The restaurant has been losing up to 60 percent in revenues since last month. Lama said, “Although the overall revenue is down, the trend of day-time drinking has picked up.”
Most of the bar customers are office goers and business people who remain busy throughout the day. Hence, higher alcohol consumption during weekend afternoons and public holidays.
Director of Nanglo Café and Bar, Durbarmarg Anup Kakshpati opines the number of visitors during daytime has grown during weekends. “Since this is winter and there is a threat of police action, customers´ turnout during late afternoon has seen a rise over the past couple of months,” he added. He, however, added that daytime business did not contribute much to overall sales.
Restaurateurs said their sales have gone down by 40 percent since the drive began. President of Restaurant and Bar Association Nepal (REBAN), Tejendra Shakya said the measure taken by traffic police is not practical in a country like Nepal where drinking has become a part of the culture.
Managing Director of Thamel based restaurant Prakash Pandey said, “People are organizing social functions at home rather than at bar these days.” He suggested that the traffic police should be flexible during weekends if not for the whole week.
In order to avoid checking which starts from late evening till 10 pm, some people have started staying till mid-night. “Some of the customers also wait till mid-night to avoid checking,” Pandey said.
Ganesh Raj Rai, chief of MTDP said that they were preparing a surprise check in the afternoon as well. “The checking will not be limited to evening only,” Rai said adding that he had also heard of people drinking during daytime. He said although the number of people drinking during daytime was not as huge they are seriously going to take up the issue.
MTDP has taken action against 3,532 people so far after the anti-drink driving drive began on December 2.
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