While over 13 states across the country have imposed strict restrictions against New Year celebrations citing an increase in Omicron cases, Telangana has granted permission to retail alcohol stores to remain open until midnight on December 31, 2021.
In a memo signed by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, the Revenue Department said that “after careful consideration of the matter,” permission was being accorded to the Director, Prohibition & Excise, Hyderabad, “to permit license holders of 2B (Bars), C1 (In-house), EP1 (Event permit) and TD1(In-house) licensees of Tourism Development Corporation, to serve liquor up to 1 am on the intervening night of December 31, 2021 and January 1, 2022.”
This came as a breather to the pub owners and event managers who announced special events on New Year’s eve. With the neighboring states like Andhra, Karnataka imposing strict restrictions, Hyderabad is expected to witness a large number of party-goers enter the city mainly from Vijayawada and Vizag. The government, however, released an order on 25 December banning rallies and public meetings till 2 January.
