As my office timings are more of a graveyard variety with no weekend offs, while returning home I do sometimes run into barricades with policemen wielding alcometers.
Some would let me go without checking, probably they could easily read the acute hangover of office work writ large on my face. Some would peep into the rolled down window of my car and ask my name. On realising that there is no slurring of speech or I smell more of roti, sabzi or masala dosa with not even a whiff of Old Monk, they let me go.
However the more cautious ones place the alcometer, which resembles the first generation Nokia or Motorola mobile phone, near my mouth and say 'blow maadi'. Sometimes my blows are not strong enough (the thought of contracting some air borne diseases from those alcometers psyche me out) and they would ask me to do so again. After blowing I have to wait with some trepidation (have heard many stories of faulty alcometers) for that all-clear beep sound, which sometimes seems like eternity. Once it happens I get the green signal to go.
While pulling off my car I do see many not so fortunate ones, who happen to land on the wrong side of alcometer reading, lined up on the side of the road. They will be arguing and gesticulating with police higher ups seated inside jeeps. Sometimes I also see cops arguing with two wheeler riders after the test and taking off the ignition keys of the vehicle and ordering the riders to wait on the road side.
These barricades are often put up in close proximity to watering holes like pubs and five star hotels and in junctions which cannot be bypassed. Most of those who land in the police net are the ones returning from parties in their choicest party wear on fancy motorbikes and swanky cars. This is the scene on most Friday and Saturday nights and this drive gets more vigorous if a festival is round the corner.
The other day around midnight on December 30, 2014 near Koramangala Sony signal I was witness to a high drama. As the signal turned green I was about to take a left turn, but a cop with alcometer in hand flagged me down. As I stopped and he was about to say 'blow maadi' a scooter with three guys on it came up and the rider was not wearing a helmet either. Seeing a surefire scope for fines his attention got diverted.
But when he tried to flag them they tried to escape but fell right in front of my car. The policeman too suffered bruises on his shin during his efforts to stop them. His compatriot who was on the other side came rushing to his help. Both rained blows on the trio and took them and the scooter to the other side of road to fine them. I had no choice but to bear witness to all this, as the signal had turned red. However, in the melee the policeman forgot to check my alcohol levels and as the signal turned green once again I left.
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For the city's glitterati it was time for euphoria. They have been smarting under jibes from their counterparts in Mumbai and Delhi that Bangalore has no night life. The closing time of restaurants and bars at 11.30 pm was seen as too uptight. Now the government has decided to take baby steps towards extending the deadline to 1 am for eateries on all days and for bars on Fridays and Saturdays, though with a caveat of 'trial period' for three months.
The city youths and some advocacy groups drawn from the who is who of technology economy had all along felt that such early closing hours does not jell with a city of international repute. With general elections round the corner the netas feel tempted to toss crumbs to the electorate and what better way to woo first time voters than increasing party hours. However the guys who are actually smirking and hoping for a windfall are those from the liquor lobby.
The men in khaki were always seen as party poopers as they had all along been saying that the existing staff has been stretched to their limits and they badly need some fresh recruits. But they had to willy nilly fall in line after being assured the cold comfort of support from home guards.
However they are not the only ones opposing it. The message boards of various news reports on many web sites have a legion of naysayers saying that crime graph would spike. Those nostalgic about end of pensioner's paradise era in city felt it will only help rich 'outsiders' get sloshed and drive cars and motorcycles under the influence.
Many also point out that though it would be okay to keep bars open for longer hours at the central business districts, but those located in predominantly residential suburbs could make lives miserable for nearby residents. It would only mean loud music, eve teasing and alcohol fuelled wheelies and drag racing in their neighbourhood.
But the advocates of extended nightlife counter that crowds out on roads well past midnight will provide the safety of numbers and crime will actually come down. Keeping bars open well past midnight will discourage binge drinking.
However amid this din of heavily polarised debate nobody is asking what actually constitutes night life? Is it just keeping bars and restaurants open? What about public transport system such as BMTC buses and Metros? Shouldn't they also ply till the closing hours of nightlife? In its present form the only people who can enjoy nightlife are those who have their own vehicle (preferably chauffeur driven as police alcometers will be working overtime) or can afford taxis and autos. For others the extension of nightlife has little meaning. Hence, the argument about safety of numbers rings hollow.
The reason why a city like Mumbai has a bustling nightlife and continues to be fairly safe is because its public transport system functions almost round the clock. The last suburban train from Churchgate and CST leaves at 1.45 am and then begins services for the next day by 4 am. Same is the case with its BEST buses. It not only provides the safety of numbers on the streets but dissuades auto and taxi drivers from charging a fortune.
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