Drinking in cars near bars spurs excise revenue in Bokaro: Data

Bokaro: Despite having just six licensed bars, the district’s liquor consumption is growing faster than its drinking spaces, excise data revealed. Liquor and beer sales have touched 6.8 lakh bulk litres (BL) annually and excise revenue touching Rs 195.2 crore in 2025-26. The growing trend, however, is also giving rise to drinking in cars or on the move, which sources said is emerging as a law and order concern.

Of the six bars, four are located in Gomia, nearly 55 km away from here, and the remaining two in BSL township.

This apart, there are around 75 liquor outlets across the district — especially in the township — where cars remain parked for hours after dusk with people apparently converting them into into private lounges.

“Why spend thousands at a bar when you can sit comfortably in your own vehicle with friends?” asked a young businessman who regularly participates in such gatherings.

The town’s largely unregulated parking adds to the behaviour. Except for areas around the railway station, Bokaro General Hospital and the zoo, vehicles can be parked for hours along roads, markets and malls with little enforcement. There is no routine towing or strict policing of unruly parking.

However, it creates law and order problems. “The problem is not people drinking inside cars, it begins when they start driving. Every commuter on the road is at risk,” said Rakesh Kumar, a resident who avoids driving at night.

DSP (traffic) Ajay Prasad said there are 20 breath analysers, with 16 at police stations and four with the traffic wing. Yet, only around 150 drunk driving cases were detected over the past year — a figure that appears low given the scale of alcohol consumption.

On the other hand, Bokaro recorded 292 road accidents in 2024, which claimed 271 lives. In 2025, accidents rose to 302, resulting in 215 fatalities. In the first four months of this year, 126 accidents have claimed 87 lives. While many crashes are suspected to involve alcohol consumption, few are officially classified as drunk driving cases.

Newly appointed DSP (city), Rajeev Ranjan, recently led a late night anti-crime drive across the town. Police found discarded liquor bottles at several locations, and many drinkers fled upon spotting patrol teams. “We conducted the drive for crime control and found liquor bottles disposed of at the spot,” he said.

Assistant excise commissioner Sanjay Kumar Mehta said that in April alone, bars sold 5,408 bulk litres of beer and 1,104 bulk litres of liquor, generating around Rs 22 lakh in revenue. For 2025-26, the district recorded sales of 5.28 lakh bulk litres of beer, 1.82 lakh bulk litres of India-made liquor and 19,539 bulk litres of country liquor.