Dec 31 to be a dry day

For all those tipplers who wish to bring in the New Year on the sea, as boat parties may not be issued required liquor permit

For all those tipplers who wish to bring in the New Year on the sea, as boat parties may not be issued required liquor permit

Tipplers who wished to party on boats on New Year's Eve will have to postpone their plans.

A senior excise officer said that keeping in mind the constant security threat to Mumbai through sea, the Indian Navy has asked the Maharashtra state excise department to extend the decision they had taken last year after 26/11 and not issue liquor permits to boat owners this year too.

The officer added, "Only the city collector has the authority to make the required changes."

City collector Idzes Kundan said, "We are looking into the matter, but it is hard to say whether the decision will be revoked. As of now the rule continues for security reasons."

Alternate plan

However, boat owners have not lost hope. "We have appealed to the excise department to issue liquor permits for the day, so we can at least serve liquor during day parties.

NO PARTY: Keeping in mind the constant security threat to Mumbai through sea, the Navy has asked the state excise department not to issue liquor permits to boat owners this year too.

We are hoping for a positive answer," said Sheiilu Lehr, director (sales), Club Privada. Privada provides luxury yachts to its members for Rs 16 to 30 lakh per night.

Huge losses

A ferry boat owner on the basis of anonymity said, "Before 26/11, when night parties were permitted, fifty per cent of our boats used to be booked.
u00a0
We used to charge around Rs 40,000 per night. But now, due to the various guidelines of the Mumbai police, we are suffering losses of Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 per month and we have lost interest in this business."

The extension of the rule has affected tour operators too. "We are facing losses of almost 35 to 40 per cent.
u00a0
It's the elite class who usually go for boat parties, and a party without liquor is of no interest to them," said Iqbal Mulla, treasurer, Travel Agents Association of India.