Mixed Reactions To 31st Liquor Ban

By Nirmala Kannangara

With the monthly Poya falling on December 31, a liquor ban till the dawn of 2010 is set to leave city hotels high and dry. According to several hotels, the ban on serving liquor on Poya days, is likely to impact on the revenue of most hotels from the much awaited New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Managing Director Amaya Resorts and Spas, Lalin Samarawickrema, told The Sunday Leader that due to the liqour ban his hotel was looking at introducing different types of mocktails on 31st night in order to substitute the alcoholic beverages. “We have no intention of breaking these regulations but in order to provide the guests the best of service we have decided to introduce different types of mocktails as a substitute to the alcoholic beverages,” said Samarawickrema. He further noted that a revenue drop on alcoholic beverages would be inevitable.

Meanwhile Director Operations Confifi Group, Ajit Jayemanne told The Sunday Leader that December 31st being a Poya day will truly be different from a normal New Year’s Eve. He added that the ban on liquor would dampen the spirits of revelers, who traditionally wine and dine in merriment. He opined that it would impact the revenue of the hotel industry as more groups were looking at attending private parties in a more secluded area where such a ban would not be an issue.

“The Confifi Group of Hotels would be affected like all others but would honour and abide by the law of the land. Most of our foreign tour operators expressed their concern over the matter from as early as mid this year,” Jayemanne said. According to him, it was a relief to note that the Excise Department has confirmed that the hotels that posses liquor licenses for 2010 could apply for an extension of liquor license from midnight till the wee hours.

Meanwhile General Manager Cinnamon Lakeside, Neroy Marso told The Sunday Leader that he could not say how the service of liquor on the 31st would impact his hotel as it was too early to make any comment.  “We would certainly know what the impact would be after Christmas,” Marso added.

However General Manager Mount Lavinia Hotel, Anura Devapura said that liquor ban on the 31st would not impact his business. “Even if such laws impact the business, we still have to follow them. However I still have not received any negative response due to this ban, so far,” Devapura added.

Meanwhile Commissioner General of Exercise, V. Hapuaratchi told The Sunday Leader that although the sale of alcoholic beverages has been banned, there are no restrictions in consuming liquor in public places. “Unlike the smoking ban in public places, anybody can consume alcoholic beverages at any place be it in a hotel reception, pool area or even at a restaurant, provided the consumer did not pay money for the beverage,” Hapuaratchi said.