The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that there would be a complete ban on liquor shops on all state highways from April 2017. It added that the licenses of existing liquor shops would not be renewed.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur passed the order banning liquor shops on highways.
The bench ruled that all liquor shops must be at least 500 metres away from the state and national highways and that all liquor banners and advertisements on highways must be removed. It said that the shops must not even be visible from the highways.
The verdict was passed for the safety of highway commuters who get distracted leading to accidents on the highways.
The orders will be implemented by the chief secretary and police chiefs of states, according to media reports.
The SC heard petitions that challenged several high court verdicts that stated that liquor shops must be located at a distance from state highways to ensure that they are not visible or accessible to the commuters.
#FLASH: Supreme court bench headed by Chief Justice of India TS Thakur directs to ban liquor on all State Highways
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2016
