Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada excise department has intensified its efforts to prevent underage drinking, conducting simultaneous surprise inspections at more than 10 bars and pubs across the city on Thursday night.
The unannounced inspection drive was carried out between 8 pm and 10.30 pm, with excise teams deployed at different establishments at the same time. The coordinated approach was intended to prevent establishments from receiving prior information about the checks and to ensure that officials could verify compliance under normal operating conditions.
The drive was conducted under the guidance of Excise Deputy Commissioner Bindushree and focused primarily on checking whether liquor was being served to customers below the legally permitted age of 21.
Age verification takes centre stage
During the inspections, excise officials checked the identity and age proof of customers at the establishments. The teams scrutinised government-issued documents to establish whether young patrons were eligible to consume alcohol.
Gayathri C H, Deputy Superintendent of the Dakshina Kannada Excise Department, said more than 10 establishments were inspected during the special operation.
“We inspected more than 10 establishments and verified the identity documents of customers. No irregularities were detected,” she said.
Although no violations were found during Thursday night’s inspections, officials issued stern warnings to owners and employees of the establishments. They were instructed to ensure that liquor is not served to anyone below the age of 21.
The department’s decision to conduct the coordinated checks comes amid increased scrutiny of establishments where young people consume alcohol. Officials said the inspections are intended not only to identify violations but also to remind licensees and their staff about their responsibilities.
Drive follows crackdown in Manipal
The targeted inspection in Mangaluru was initiated following a major crackdown in neighbouring Manipal, where excise officials registered cases against the management of six pubs and bars after finding 88 people below the age of 21 consuming alcohol.
The incident prompted the department to step up its focus on age verification at bars, pubs and other licensed establishments in the region.
Gayathri said the excise department conducts inspections regularly, but Thursday’s operation was different as it was specifically coordinated to check whether liquor was being served to underage customers.
She said surprise inspections of this nature would continue in the future.
The department’s approach places greater responsibility on establishments to ensure that their employees check identification documents before serving alcohol, particularly when dealing with young customers whose age may not be immediately apparent.
Establishments must verify identity documents
Excise officials have directed licensees to verify the age of young customers using valid government-issued identification documents that clearly mention their date of birth.
Documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and driving licences can be used for age verification. Officials have stressed that staff members should not rely solely on a customer’s appearance or verbal assurance when determining whether the person is legally permitted to consume alcohol.
The department has also instructed establishments to display prominent signboards informing customers that liquor will not be served to anyone below 21 years of age.
In addition to the age restriction, establishments have been asked to display warnings against drug consumption on their premises. Excise teams also checked the inspected venues for suspected drug-related violations during the latest operation.
Officials said no drug-related violations were detected during the inspections.
Owners held responsible for staff compliance
The excise department has also highlighted the responsibility of establishment owners in training their employees and ensuring that regulations are followed consistently.
According to Gayathri, the department briefs licensees about applicable rules once every two months. However, frequent staff changes in bars and restaurants can result in newly recruited employees being unaware of important restrictions.
This can create an information gap, particularly when employees are expected to check identification documents and enforce age restrictions during busy hours.
Gayathri emphasised that the responsibility ultimately rests with the owners and management of the establishments. They must ensure that every member of their staff understands the age-related restrictions and follows the required verification procedure before serving liquor.
The department’s latest inspections therefore serve as both an enforcement measure and a warning to establishments that failure to prevent underage drinking could lead to action.
Surprise inspections likely to continue
The coordinated nature of Thursday’s operation indicates that the excise department is adopting a more targeted approach towards preventing underage alcohol consumption in Mangaluru.
While no violations were detected in the establishments inspected during the latest drive, officials have made it clear that compliance will continue to be monitored. Surprise inspections can allow authorities to assess whether age-verification procedures are actually being followed rather than relying only on periodic instructions issued to licensees.
The department’s focus is also likely to place greater emphasis on staff awareness, given the high turnover in the hospitality sector. Owners and managers will need to ensure that newly appointed employees are familiar with the legal age limit and understand the importance of checking valid identification before serving liquor.
With the recent action in Manipal serving as a warning to establishments across the region, the Dakshina Kannada excise department’s intensified inspections are aimed at ensuring that bars and pubs comply with the law and prevent alcohol from reaching customers below 21 years of age.
