Mangaluru :  The Dakshina Kannada district police have issued certain guidelines to people and organisations in the district for New Year celebrations.

Hotels and restaurants have to serve liquor only during the period specified by the Government. Suppose the event is extended beyond the deadline then, they must submit a written permission to the Excise Department. A copy of the permission letter should be given to the local Police Station too. Even though the permission is sought by the Excise Department, the party should be stopped compulsorily by 12.30 p.m.

People are prohibited from consuming alcohol or smoking in public places including bus stops, railways stations, public gardens and parks where New Year celebrations have been organized.

Entertainment programmes planned at public places should have permits sought from the concerned authorities and such programmes should be stopped at 12.30 p.m.

The Police Department will take legal action against those found celebrating New Year on roads and public places in indecent manner.

All the owners of hotels, resorts and clubs have been directed to apply for the permit before December 31, by 4.p.m. from the Mangaluru Commissioner’s office. Hotels and clubs have been directed to ensure that the celebration is held strictly on their premises and not in public places. The organizers have also been directed to possess fire extinguishers, first aid kits in case of emergency.

Those who wish to install sound box should affix only those instruments which produce sound within the area of celebration. The organizers have been ordered to take up all precautionary measures. Further in the name of celebrations indecent dance or gambling is prohibited.

Police teams will be patrolling during December 31 night to prevent any untoward incidents or people creating nuisance on the pretext of exchanging new year wishes. The Traffic Department will also form teams including experts to prevent detect drunken cases and also take stringent actions against those involved in drunken driving. This team will also prevent people from involving wheeling, drag race and over speeding.

Consumption of liquor in the beaches is also being prohibited. People have also been prohibited from entering hostels or private residential complexes. Burning crackers has also been prohibited. The police will crack down on people found driving vehicles in an inebriated state.