AI-Powered CCTV in Bars: Maharashtra’s New Strategy Against Underage Drinking
Pune, 30th May 2024: In light of recent incidents involving pubs and hotel operators selling alcohol to minors in both urban and rural areas, the Maharashtra State Excise Department is taking proactive measures to combat such malpractices.
As part of this initiative, the Excise Department has instructed the installation of CCTV cameras in all hotels, bars, and pubs where liquor is sold. Additionally, these CCTV feeds will be directly accessible on mobile devices by Sub-Inspectors and Superintendents of the Excise Department.
The wake-up call for the Excise Department came after the tragic incident in Kalyani Nagar, where minors were served alcohol in pubs and bars. This ultimately led to a fatal accident involving a speeding Porsche and a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of two young IT Engineers. Consequently, these instructions have been issued to ensure stricter monitoring. Specifically, at least two CCTV cameras should be installed in areas where liquor is served, such as at the bar counter, to capture comprehensive footage.
Furthermore, these CCTV systems should include a backup mechanism to store recordings for at least one month, and they should be operational 24/7 with an inverter facility in place. Inspectors and Superintendents will be provided with the necessary user IDs and passwords to access the live CCTV feeds.
To enhance monitoring capabilities, the Excise Department has mandated that CCTV cameras be at least two megapixels in resolution. Additionally, pubs and bars are required to have special software with AI capabilities installed in the cameras to analyze image data effectively.
