Women bartenders can work but under a dress code

Bangalore, Jul 10: Women can now work as bartenders in Karnataka albeit under a dress code that forms part of the government guidelines which received the high court nod on Tuesday.

The court permitted women to be employed as bartenders, as government submitted its guidelines under which all outlets will have to seek a prior approval of the competent authority to employ women, who need to be 21 years of age or more.

The prescribed dress code, according to the guidelines, is: "a decent uniform" comprising full trousers and full shirts/T shirts with or without a blazer or a salwar kameez with dupatta (without vulgar display of the body).

A model of the attire should be approved by the licensing authority and the women employees should mandatorily wear the uniform during duty hours, the guidelines said.

The court allowed a petition filed by Bangalore Ladies Working Bars and Restaurant Owners' Association seeking restraining police from interfering with their lawful business and to permit women to be employed as bartenders.

In his order, Justice AS Bopanna directed Police not to interfere with the lawful business of the petitioner and permitted women to work as bartenders as per the guidelines.

The guidelines covering bars and other places of public entertainment will have to be approved by the licensing authority- the city corporation Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike or the Town Municipal Council.

The rules also provide that particulars of women employees- proof of address, age and permanent residence and photograph -- should be submitted to the jurisdictional police station and labour department within 30 days of obtaining licence. Details of fresh appointments and resignations should also be submitted to the two authorities.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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