Unlock 4.0: Bars and pubs in Karnataka can serve liquor from Sept 1

News Network

August 30, 2020

Bengaluru, Aug 30: Bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants in Karnataka will be able to serve liquor from September 1, after five months of restriction on sales. Until now, shops were allowed only to sell takeaway.

Confirming the same, Excise Minister H Nagesh said all the establishments will be allowed service of liquor, but with only 50 percent of their seating capacity.

“They can fill only half their capacity. They have to maintain social distance and take other standard precautionary measures for Covid-19,” he said, adding that a detailed set of guidelines would be issued on Monday. The state government’s decision follows the Unlock 4.0 guidelines issued by the Centre on Saturday.

After a complete shutdown of liquor sales in March following the first lockdown, the state government had opened partial sales of liquor in the beginning of May by allowing MRP outlets to open for takeaway.

This was followed by permission for clubs, bars and restaurants to clear their stock, while later that month, pubs with RVB (Retail Vend of Beer) were also allowed to clear their stock.

With restricted sales, the state has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 1435 crore till date, Nagesh added.

“This is the estimated loss in comparison to the revenue generated at the same period last year. The losses would have crossed over Rs 3000 crore, if not for the state’s decision to allow takeaway of liquor,” according to the minister. The state government’s excise revenue target for the financial year 2020-21 is Rs 22,700 crore, as per the budget announcement this year.

Meanwhile, even with the government permitting takeaway, there has only been marginal improvement of sales, said Bengaluru district Wine Merchants Association President Lokesh. The Association recently submitted a representation to the Chief Minister urging the state government to allow service of liquor.

“The takeaway system was of no use for bars. People usually buy takeaway from retail stores. Most of the business flows into those stores. At least 600 bars in the district have not opened shops until now as there is no business. The state will accrue huge losses if this system is continued. We had sought permission for services at the earliest,” Lokesh said.

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From malls to highways, Kannada signboards to be enforced in Dakshina Kannada

News Network

February 4,2026

Mangaluru: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats should make the use of Kannada on signboards mandatory while issuing trade licences to commercial establishments, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said. He also called for regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Presiding over the District Kannada Awareness Committee meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Darshan said the city corporation would be directed to ensure that shops operating in malls prominently display their names in Kannada. “All commercial establishments, including shops, companies, offices and hotels, must mandatorily display their names in Kannada on signboards,” he said.

The deputy commissioner added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be instructed to include Kannada on signboards along national highways. Banks, he said, would be directed through committee meetings to provide application forms in Kannada.

“Even if English-medium schools and colleges impart education in English, their signboards must display the institution’s name in Kannada. Steps will also be taken to ensure that private buses display place names in Kannada,” Darshan said.

During the meeting, committee members raised concerns over the closure of Kannada-medium schools in rural areas due to a shortage of teachers and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures. They also pointed out that several industries employ workers from other states while overlooking local candidates.

Members further demanded that nationalised banks provide deposit and withdrawal slips in Kannada. It was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice that the presence of staff without knowledge of Kannada in rural branches of nationalised banks is causing hardship to local customers.

Meanwhile, MP Srinath, president of the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, urged the district administration to allot land for the construction of a district Kannada Bhavana in Mangaluru.

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